adjective
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of, relating to, befitting, or characteristic of a senator
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composed of senators
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electing or entitled to representation by a senator
senatorial districts
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of senatorial
1730–40; < Latin senātōri ( us ) ( see senator, -tory 1) + -al 1
Explanation
Anything senatorial relates to senators, who are members of a legislative body. If you are a senatorial candidate, guess what? You are running for the Senate. If a politician is presidential, it seems like they could serve as the President. A similar word is senatorial, which refers to all aspects of senators and senates. A senatorial election is between two politicians competing for a seat in the U.S. Senate. A senatorial committee is full of senators. Since a senator is in a position of authority, this word sometimes refers to how impressive, serious, or authoritative someone seems.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Senatorial courtesy seemed as though it would glide Mullin along expeditiously.
From Slate • Mar. 21, 2026
The timing was also savvy, exactly what you’d expect from the man who in 2024, as National Republicans Senatorial Committee chairman, delivered Mr. Trump a Republican Senate.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026
His Senate colleagues elected him in late November to lead the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which Smith notes is a "pretty powerful position" in its own right.
From Salon • Dec. 31, 2024
Sen. Steve Daines, chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said Menendez’s decision “makes that race a little more interesting.”
From Seattle Times • Jun. 3, 2024
Senatorial control of foreign relations seems now to be firmly established.
From Behind the Mirrors The Psychology of Disintegration at Washington by Gilbert, Clinton W. (Clinton Wallace)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
