cloture

1 of 2

noun

clo·​ture ˈklō-chər How to pronounce cloture (audio)
: the closing or limitation of debate in a legislative body especially by calling for a vote

cloture

2 of 2

verb

clotured; cloturing; clotures

transitive verb

: to close (debate) in a legislative body by cloture
Debate over the bill was short Tuesday evening. After an initial debate Tuesday afternoon, Senate Republicans clotured debate when the bill returned later in the day.Brian Lyman

Examples of cloture in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The $95 billion package advanced in a 67-32 cloture vote Wednesday, also known as a motion to limit debate on a bill, and moved to a final vote. Jamie Joseph, Fox News, 9 Feb. 2024 Republicans have until 11 a.m. local time on Saturday, when the Senate will vote to invoke cloture on the CR, to whip enough GOP votes for the measure. Emily Jacobs, Washington Examiner, 29 Sep. 2023 Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer filed cloture on three top nominations on Tuesday, setting up a potential vote for Thursday. Eleanor Watson, CBS News, 1 Nov. 2023 Sullivan also said Senate leadership could bypass the holds by filing cloture and cutting off debate on the nominees individually, which would take up time on the Senate floor. Riley Rogerson, Anchorage Daily News, 19 July 2023 The cloture motion is expected next week, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., saying senators will have to publicly state their positions. Safia Samee Ali, NBC News, 4 May 2022 On Wednesday, 33 Nebraska senators—precisely the number needed for cloture—voted to allow the Opportunity Scholarships Act to move forward, advancing a school-choice bill for the first time in the state’s history. Corey Deangelis, WSJ, 10 Mar. 2023 For decades, the rule was rarely used; between 1919 and 1971, there were only forty-nine cloture votes, fewer than one per year. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 The filibuster and other debate on the bill lasted until June 10, 1964, when cloture was invoked. Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 2 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cloture.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French clôture, literally, closure, alteration of Middle French closure

First Known Use

Noun

1871, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1886, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cloture was in 1871

Dictionary Entries Near cloture

Cite this Entry

“Cloture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cloture. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Legal Definition

cloture

noun
clo·​ture ˈklō-chər How to pronounce cloture (audio)
: the closing or limitation of debate in a legislative body especially by calling for a vote
cloture transitive verb
Etymology

Noun

French clôture, literally, closure

More from Merriam-Webster on cloture

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