legislature

noun

leg·​is·​la·​ture ˈle-jə-ˌslā-chər 

 also  ˌle-jə-ˈslā-,

 British often  ˈle-jə-slə-chə

: a body of persons having the power to legislate

specifically : an organized body having the authority to make laws for a political unit

Examples of legislature in a Sentence

Our legislature passed a law requiring people to wear safety belts.

Each state has its own legislature.

Recent Examples on the Web

Next week, he is set to become a South Korean lawmaker, becoming only the fourth escapee from authoritarian North Korea to serve in the democratic South’s legislature. —Michelle Lee, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024

Casino workers have long been advocating for protections under the 2006 smoke-free law, but progress has been snagged for years in the New Jersey legislature. —Ramishah Maruf, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024

Upon the bill's passage in the legislature, the ACLU of Georgia threatened to sue if Kemp signs it into law. —Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024

But, in Texas, the Republican governor, Greg Abbott, won reëlection by an eleven-point margin, and the G.O.P. gained four seats in the legislature, increasing its majority. —Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2024

That has led to a push in states with referendum processes to take the power to district away from legislatures. —TIME, 1 Apr. 2024

Last year, the Florida legislature passed several laws restricting rights for transgender people. —Regan McCarthy, NPR, 31 Mar. 2024

Those documents would be subject to amendment by the legislature. —Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 29 Mar. 2024

Legislation pressed by the Sikh Coalition also is pending in the California legislature to require CDCR to provide protective equipment based on employees’ individual needs and to grant greater protections for religious beliefs. —Sam Stanton, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1676, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

legislature

noun

leg·​is·​la·​ture ˈlej-ə-ˌslā-chər 

: an organized body of persons having the authority to make laws

Legal Definition

legislature

noun

leg·​is·​la·​ture ˈle-jəs-ˌlā-chər, -ˌchu̇r 

: a body of persons having the power to legislate

specifically : an organized body having the authority to make laws for a political unit (as a nation or state) compare executive, judiciary