legislation
noun
leg·is·la·tion
ˌle-jə-ˈslā-shən 
1
: the action of legislating
specifically
: the exercise of the power and function of making rules (such as laws) that have the force of authority by virtue of their promulgation by an official organ of a state or other organization
the major function of Congress is legislation —
W. S. Sayre
W. S. Sayre 2
: the enactments of a legislator or a legislative body
legislation to help distressed homeowners
3
: a matter of business for or under consideration by a legislative body
She proposed new legislation to protect the environment.
Examples of legislation in a Sentence
They passed new state legislation this week.
Two new pieces of legislation are being considered.
She introduced legislation for protecting the environment.
More legislation is needed on this matter.
Certain animals are protected under state legislation.
One of the important functions of government is legislation.
Recent Examples on the Web
Taylor Wilson: And how is TikTok responding to this legislation?
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024
Why did the House add the TikTok legislation to the foreign aid bill?
—Gillian Brassil, Sacramento Bee, 24 Apr. 2024
The must-pass legislation would keep Medicaid — which provides health coverage to roughly 1 million residents — operating.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2024
After the House approved the $95 billion in foreign aid in the form of four individual bills over the weekend, the legislation comes to the Senate as a single package that is expected to pass and then head to the president's desk later this week.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2024
The Senate passed a $95 billion bill in February but the legislation faced a logjam in the House as a coalition of Republican hard-liners grew opposed to sending more resources overseas without addressing domestic issues like immigration.
—Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 23 Apr. 2024
The House on Saturday approved the individual aid packages on overwhelmingly bipartisan votes despite failing to act on the foreign aid due to opposition from some on the right, and the legislation was packaged together and sent to the Senate.
—Lawrence Andrea, Journal Sentinel, 23 Apr. 2024
The legislation is intended to override a Supreme Court ruling last year that deemed the plan to send asylum seekers to the African nation unlawful.
—Megan Specia, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2024
On her website, Butler touts establishing youth councils at the EPA, a bipartisan bill to empower specialty crop farmers, authorizing a FIFA World Cup 2026 commemorative coin and joining with Padilla to introduce legislation calling on President Biden to establish the Chuckwalla National Monument.
—John Seiler, Orange County Register, 23 Apr. 2024
Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024
Why did the House add the TikTok legislation to the foreign aid bill?
—Gillian Brassil, Sacramento Bee, 24 Apr. 2024
The must-pass legislation would keep Medicaid — which provides health coverage to roughly 1 million residents — operating.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2024
After the House approved the $95 billion in foreign aid in the form of four individual bills over the weekend, the legislation comes to the Senate as a single package that is expected to pass and then head to the president's desk later this week.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2024
The Senate passed a $95 billion bill in February but the legislation faced a logjam in the House as a coalition of Republican hard-liners grew opposed to sending more resources overseas without addressing domestic issues like immigration.
—Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 23 Apr. 2024
The House on Saturday approved the individual aid packages on overwhelmingly bipartisan votes despite failing to act on the foreign aid due to opposition from some on the right, and the legislation was packaged together and sent to the Senate.
—Lawrence Andrea, Journal Sentinel, 23 Apr. 2024
The legislation is intended to override a Supreme Court ruling last year that deemed the plan to send asylum seekers to the African nation unlawful.
—Megan Specia, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2024
On her website, Butler touts establishing youth councils at the EPA, a bipartisan bill to empower specialty crop farmers, authorizing a FIFA World Cup 2026 commemorative coin and joining with Padilla to introduce legislation calling on President Biden to establish the Chuckwalla National Monument.
—John Seiler, Orange County Register, 23 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'legislation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near legislation
Cite this Entry
“Legislation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legislation. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
legislation
noun
leg·is·la·tion
ˌlej-ə-ˈslā-shən
1
: the action of making laws
2
: the laws made by a legislator or legislative body
Legal Definition
legislation
noun
leg·is·la·tion
ˌle-jəs-ˈlā-shən
1
: the making or giving of laws
specifically
: the exercise of the power and function of making rules that have the force of authority by virtue of their promulgation by an official organ of the state
2
: the enactments of a legislator or legislative body
3
: a matter of business for or under consideration by a legislative body
recently proposed legislation
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