States-General

[ steyts-jen-er-uhl ]

noun

the parliament of the Netherlands, consisting of an upper chamber (First Chamber ) and a lower chamber (Second Chamber ).
French History. the legislative body in France before the French Revolution.

Origin of States-General

First recorded in 1575–85

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use States-General in a sentence

The states general of France formed themselves into the national assembly.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology | Joel Munsell
A memorial reciting these letters was delivered to the States-General in November, 1780, but no answer was returned.
Private Letters of Edward Gibbon (1753-1794) Volume 1 (of 2) | Edward Gibbon
The king, our master, is in the midst of his loyal subjects, and the States-General must be suffered to deliberate at liberty.
Catherine de' Medici | Honore de Balzac
The States-General voted to join the armed neutrality and, while disavowing the treaty, did not proceed against the pensionary.
The Political History of England - Vol. X. | William Hunt
The States-General of the Netherlands had no constitutional doubt about imposing duties on their outlying colonies.
The Loyalists of America and Their Times, Vol. 1 of 2 | Egerton Ryerson

British Dictionary definitions for States General

States General

pl n

the bicameral legislature of the Netherlands
history
- an assembly of the estates of an entire country in contrast to those of a single province
- Also called: Estates General the assembly of the estates of all France, last meeting in 1789
- the sovereign body of the Dutch republic from the 16th to 18th century

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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