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 innovative companies are starting that today, and packaging reuse is legislated in Europe and will spread to other countries.
—
Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 4 June 2025
The issue has been repeatedly legislated and litigated since the Scopes trial.
—Peter Smith, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2025
The Emancipation Proclamation and the North’s victory in the Civil War moved the Fugitive Slave Act from law to a part of a history that some states (and by Executive Order, the country as a whole) are still attempting to legislate away.
—Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 19 May 2025
The simple truth is that quality parental outcomes can’t be legislated, nor can they be forced.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legislate
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Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 4 June 2025
The issue has been repeatedly legislated and litigated since the Scopes trial.
—Peter Smith, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2025
The Emancipation Proclamation and the North’s victory in the Civil War moved the Fugitive Slave Act from law to a part of a history that some states (and by Executive Order, the country as a whole) are still attempting to legislate away.
—Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 19 May 2025
The simple truth is that quality parental outcomes can’t be legislated, nor can they be forced.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legislate
Cite this Entry
“Legislate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legislate. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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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