legislate
verb
leg·is·late
ˈle-jə-ˌslāt 
legislated; legislating
: to perform the function of legislation
specifically
: to make or enact laws
: to mandate, establish, or regulate by or as if by legislation
Examples of legislate in a Sentence
They are attempting to legislate morality.
the need to better legislate foreign trade
trying to legislate changes in the current law
Recent Examples on the Web
The social interactions of impromptu sidewalk conversations that create strong community ties were legislated out of neighborhoods.
—
Sam Gallaher, Orlando Sentinel, 14 July 2024
Cellphone crackdown: Virginia became the latest in a string of states to legislate restrictions on cellphone use in classrooms, with Gov. Glenn Youngkin issuing an executive order to eliminate the use of devices in public schools.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 10 July 2024
The time to legislate is not next week, next year, next decade.
—Kate Graham-Shaw, Scientific American, 9 July 2024
In a city where fertility clinics outnumber churches, fewer still would be willing to legislate it.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for legislate 
Sam Gallaher, Orlando Sentinel, 14 July 2024
Cellphone crackdown: Virginia became the latest in a string of states to legislate restrictions on cellphone use in classrooms, with Gov. Glenn Youngkin issuing an executive order to eliminate the use of devices in public schools.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 10 July 2024
The time to legislate is not next week, next year, next decade.
—Kate Graham-Shaw, Scientific American, 9 July 2024
In a city where fertility clinics outnumber churches, fewer still would be willing to legislate it.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for legislate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'legislate.' 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 legislate
Cite this Entry
“Legislate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legislate. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
legislate
verb
leg·is·late
ˈlej-ə-ˌslāt
legislated; legislating
1
: to make laws
the constitutional power to legislate
2
: to cause, establish, or regulate by legislation
legislating foreign trade
Legal Definition
legislate
verb
leg·is·late
ˈle-jəs-ˌlāt
legislated; legislating
: to perform the function of legislation
specifically
: to make or enact laws
: to cause, create, provide, or bring about by legislation
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