unicameral
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unicameral
Compare meaning
How does unicameral compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Use the adjective unicameral to describe a government with only one legislative house or chamber. The Parliament of Finland, for example, is unicameral. Some governments are split into two houses — these are called bicameral legislatures. When there is only one house, usually because the government is small or the country is homogeneous, it's called unicameral. Having a unicameral government is simpler and more straightforward, while a bicameral legislature can represent more diverse groups. The word unicameral has two Latin roots, uni, which means "one," and camera, "chamber."
Vocabulary lists containing unicameral
Power Prefix: uni-
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Beginnings of American Government
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: uni-
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Postponed from Tuesday, the unicameral parliament is scheduled to meet again Thursday, though it was not clear if the bill was on the agenda.
From Barron's ● Feb. 10, 2026
Stefanik spoke at the Knesset, Israel's unicameral legislature, at the invitation of Speaker Amir Ohana, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition.
From Salon ● May 20, 2024
Mr. Buffet was not the only high-profile American whose name was aired during Monday’s hearing in the Yuan, Taiwan’s unicameral legislature.
From Washington Times ● May 9, 2023
Lawmakers in the unicameral Congress dominated by Bukele's New Ideas party passed the proposal in an overwhelming majority vote of 62 in favor and only 16 opposed.
From Reuters ● Jan. 11, 2023
It set up a unicameral parliament, which was to be elected on the basis of universal suffrage; the parliament was to control the executive.
From Area Handbook for Bulgaria by Baluyut, Violeta D.
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.
