legislator

noun

leg·​is·​la·​tor ˈle-jə-ˌslā-tər  -ˌslā-ˌtȯr 

 also  ˌle-jə-ˈslā-ˌtȯr

: one that makes laws especially for a political unit

especially : a member of a legislative body

legislatorial

ˌle-jə-slə-ˈtȯr-ē-əl 

adjective

legislatorship

ˈle-jə-ˌslā-tər-ˌship 

noun

Synonyms

• lawgiver
• lawmaker
• solon

Examples of legislator in a Sentence

Write to your state legislator.

the legislators met in an all-night session to hammer out the details of the bill

Recent Examples on the Web

This year, legislators throughout the U.S. have already introduced more than five hundred bills restricting trans rights. —Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2024

Instead of commissioning more studies on natural gas, Maine’s legislators should be championing pipeline construction. —Roy Mathews, National Review, 29 Apr. 2024

Related Articles Walters: Newsom, legislators try gimmicks, wishful thinking to close California’s budget deficit Former state Controller Betty Yee, who’s running to replace Newsom in 2027, advocated tax reform for years but ultimately backed off. —George Skelton, The Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2024

But legislators never addressed physicians’ calls for a broader health exception to the law. —Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 24 Apr. 2024

That does not count the $255,000 that the Royals contributed separately to Freedom Inc. and three campaign committees with close ties to county legislator and Freedom Inc. board member DaRon McGee for advertising and get-out-the-vote efforts. —Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2024

And most egregiously, N.C. legislators passed sweeping legislation last fall declaring that each individual legislator can decide whether their records are public or not. —Taylor Batten, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2024

If enforcing state law, and protecting vulnerable people from horrid exploitation in real time, seems important, Umberg urges you to contact your legislators and urge them to support the bill. —Teri Sforza, Orange County Register, 14 Apr. 2024

The law passed by legislators on Thursday addresses the issue of mobilization broadly, and includes provisions that lawmakers said were aimed at making the conscription process more transparent and equitable. —Marc Santora, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin legis lator, literally, proposer of a law, from legis (genitive of lex law) + lator proposer, from ferre (past participle latus) to carry, propose — more at tolerate, bear

First Known Use

circa 1513, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

legislator

noun

leg·​is·​la·​tor ˈlej-ə-ˌslā-ˌtȯ(ə)r  -ˌslāt-ər 

: a person who makes laws

especially : a member of a legislature

Legal Definition

legislator

noun

leg·​is·​la·​tor ˈle-jəs-ˌlā-tər, -ˌtȯr 

: a person who makes laws especially for a political unit

especially : a member of a legislative body

legislatorial

ˌle-jəs-lə-ˈtōr-ē-əl 

adjective

legislatorship noun

Etymology

Latin legis lator, literally, proposer of a law, from legis (genitive of lex law) + lator proposer, from ferre (past participle latus) to carry, propose