legislate

verb

leg·​is·​late ˈle-jə-ˌslāt How to pronounce legislate (audio)
legislated; legislating

intransitive verb

: to perform the function of legislation
specifically : to make or enact laws

transitive verb

: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Lawmakers who have not been elected by DC residents and have slim knowledge of DC laws have NO place trying to legislate for us. Heather Hunter, The Washington Examiner, 10 Sep. 2025 While legislating to force Europeans to only buy new EVs by 2035, its parliamentarians failed to notice only China had the technology to supply them at affordable prices. Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025 The United States was Triumph’s most promising market, and because convertibles were nearly legislated out of existence at the time due to misguided Department of Transportation (DOT) roll-over worries, Triumph launched the TR7 as a coupe. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 5 Sep. 2025 Wednesday was the first full day back for members of Congress after an annual monthlong break from legislating. Danielle Battaglia, Charlotte Observer, 4 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for legislate

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from legislator

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of legislate was in 1656

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Legislate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legislate. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

legislate

verb
leg·​is·​late ˈlej-ə-ˌslāt How to pronounce legislate (audio)
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 How to pronounce legislate (audio)
legislated; legislating

intransitive verb

: to perform the function of legislation
specifically : to make or enact laws

transitive verb

: to cause, create, provide, or bring about by legislation

More from Merriam-Webster on legislate

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