upper house

American  

noun

1. one of two branches of a legislature generally smaller and less representative than the lower branch, as the Senate of the U.S. Congress.

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upper house British  

noun

1. Also called: upper chamber.  (often capitals) one of the two houses of a bicameral legislature Compare lower house

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Etymology

Origin of upper house

First recorded in 1525–35

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

upper house

The upper house said 42% of Medi-Cal enrollees are full-time workers who are not enrolled in their company’s healthcare plan because their wages are low enough to qualify for state-subsidized healthcare.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 3, 2026

Lord Bethell, a Conservative health minister during the Covid-19 pandemic, has also announced his intention to leave the upper house.

From BBC ● Mar. 13, 2026

Last October, Jeremy Buckingham, a member of NSW Legislative Council, the state's upper house, used parliamentary privilege to name the suspect.

From BBC ● Feb. 23, 2026

Those include prime ministerial term limits, a new upper house of parliament, stronger presidential powers and greater judicial independence.

From Barron's ● Feb. 14, 2026

The upper house is called the senate and is composed of nineteen members, elected for a term of four years.

From Government in the United States National, State and Local by James Wilford Garner