legislation

noun leg·is·la·tion \ ˌle-jə-ˈslā-shən \

|Updated on: 15 Jul 2018

Examples: legislation in a Sentence

1 : the action of legislating; specifically : the exercise of the power and function of making rules (such as laws) that have the force of authority by virtue of their promulgation by an official organ of a state or other organization

the major function of Congress is legislation
—W. S. Sayre

2 : the enactments of a legislator or a legislative body

legislation to help distressed homeowners

3 : a matter of business for or under consideration by a legislative body

She proposed new legislation to protect the environment.

See legislation defined for English-language learners

See legislation defined for kids

Examples of legislation in a Sentence

They passed new state legislation this week.
Two new pieces of legislation are being considered.
She introduced legislation for protecting the environment.
More legislation is needed on this matter.
Certain animals are protected under state legislation.
One of the important functions of government is legislation.

Recent Examples of legislation from the Web

This news comes at the same time that Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) has just introduced legislation that would make the government release information about unsolved civil rights killings.

— jameelah nasheed, Teen Vogue, "The Emmett Till Case Is Being Reopened by the Department of Justice," 12 July 2018
Last month, senators Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, and Tim Scott introduced legislation to make lynching a federal hate crime.

— kaila philo, The New Republic, "The Emmett Till case has been reopened.," 12 July 2018
Last year, for the fourth time, Nelson introduced legislation that would automatically authorize the Army Corps of Engineers to move forward on any Everglades-restoration project that is ready to begin, without waiting for congressional approval.

— david smiley and mary ellen klas, miamiherald, "Florida’s politicians use slimy algae to muddy each other," 11 July 2018
District Nine Supervisor Hillary Ronen plans to introduce legislation Tuesday aiming to shut that loophole.

— trisha thadani, SFChronicle.com, "Supervisor moves to strengthen renter protections in San Francisco," 10 July 2018
Last year, Senator Mark Warner (D-Virginia) introduced legislation that would offer grants to states, cities, and community groups to create pilot programs of portable benefits.

— miranda katz, WIRED, "How an App Could Give Some Gig Workers a Safety Net," 9 July 2018
On July 2nd the government introduced legislation which changes tack.

— The Economist, "Italy’s government proposes to limit fixed-term job contracts," 6 July 2018
Privacy - Terms Earlier this year, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., introduced legislation that would remove all federal restrictions on hemp cultivation.

— william l. spence, idahostatesman, "Congress has moved to OK this once-controversial crop, and Idaho could benefit bigtime," 4 July 2018
Yet for the past two decades, and most recently on Flag Day, Congress has introduced bipartisan legislation to restrict or ban these imports.

— michael d. breidenbach, The Atlantic, "Raising the American Flag Made in China," 4 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'legislation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of legislation

1606

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

LEGISLATION Defined for English Language Learners

legislation

noun

: a law or set of laws made by a government
: the action or process of making laws

LEGISLATION Defined for Kids

legislation

noun leg·is·la·tion \ ˌle-jə-ˈslā-shən \

1 : the action of making laws

2 : the laws that are made Congress passed new legislation protecting the environment.

Law Dictionary

legislation

noun leg·is·la·tion \ ˌle-jəs-ˈlā-shən \

1 : the making or giving of laws; specifically : the exercise of the power and function of making rules that have the force of authority by virtue of their promulgation by an official organ of the state

2 : the enactments of a legislator or legislative body

3 : a matter of business for or under consideration by a legislative body