legislation

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

Definition of legislation

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

She's stayed silent on her father's decisions to cut funding for women's healthcare and remove other Obama-era legislation to protect women in the workplace.

— suzannah weiss, Glamour, "Ivanka Trump Supports Women Who Work—but Is Apparently Fine With Scrapping Equal Pay Legislation," 30 Aug. 2017
The legislation passed Tuesday also provides $75 million in tax credits for people who contributed to private school scholarships.

— sophia tareen, The Seattle Times, "Illinois Senate approves school funding overhaul," 29 Aug. 2017
Huerta’s lobbying led to the passage of key California legislation, including Aid for Dependent Families in 1963 and the Agricultural Labor Relations Act in 1975.

— ryan p. smith, Smithsonian, "Civil Rights Icon Dolores Huerta Offers Advice to a New Generation of Activists," 26 Aug. 2017
Members of Congress and their staffers use acronyms to put a spin on their legislation all the time. Sneaking an acrostic into a pro forma letter isn’t new either.

— adrienne lafrance, The Atlantic, "The Acrostic as a Form of Bureaucratic Dissent," 23 Aug. 2017
Sen. Mike Crapo will be at Boise’s Veterans Park on State Street at 10 a.m. Aug. 23 to honor the Wake Island Reunion group and veterans with a Congressional Record statement, and to announce new medal legislation in Congress.

— cynthia sewell, idahostatesman, "Crapo, Simpson, Labrador and Risch are home for August. Here’s where you’ll find them.," 11 Aug. 2017
Last month three GOP defections stopped the push to pass legislation that would have gutted the Affordable Care Act and tossed tens of millions off their health insurance (for now, at least).

— margaret hartmann, Daily Intelligencer, "The State of Obamacare in 2018 Remains Uncertain, Mostly Thanks to Republicans," 10 Aug. 2017
Bipartisan legislation passed by a House committee would ease many of the problems caused by the law.

— hope yen, Philly.com, "Snail Mail Struggles," 10 Aug. 2017
Donald Trump has a talent for selling himself, but not for selling legislation.

— vanityfair.com, "The Democratic Case for Restricting Immigration," 9 Aug. 2017

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

Other Government and Politics Terms

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

LEGISLATION Defined for English Language Learners

legislation

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noun

Definition of legislation for English Language Learners

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

LEGISLATION Defined for Kids

legislation

play

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

Definition of legislation for Students

1 :the action of making laws

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

Law Dictionary

legislation

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

legal Definition of legislation

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