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

Alabama, Alaska, Montana and New Hampshire do not have an applicable statute and do not use drop boxes, according to the state legislatures conference. — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

The California governor and legislature would decide how most of that money will be spent, Bonta said, but it will be used to address child safety on social media. — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

The framers broadly considered that the executive and judicial branches would play subsidiary roles to the legislature. — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026

Red-state legislatures rushed to pass stringent prohibitions. — Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1676, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for legislature

• nomenclature
• nature

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