legislate

verb

leg·​is·​late ˈle-jə-ˌslāt 

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

Synonyms of legislate

• enact

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

Plus, Congress has a very small window to legislate before the end of the year. — Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 23 Sep. 2026

Those ideas can’t be legislated into existence, yet institutions, social movements, customs, and habits can shape them over time. — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

The White House, much like Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), views the recess as a balancing act between legislating and giving members more time to make their case to constituents. — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2026

In the run-up to November’s midterm elections, potshots at opponents have been coming fast and hard in advertisements and social media, while legislating on Capitol Hill has slowed to a crawl. — The Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 15 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from legislator

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for legislate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids 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

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