legislator

play

noun leg·is·la·tor \ˈle-jə-ˌslā-ˌtȯr, -ˌslā-tər also ˌle-jə-ˈslā-ˌtȯr\

Definition of legislator

: one that makes laws especially for a political unit; especially : a member of a legislative body

legislatorial

play \ˌle-jə-slə-ˈtȯr-ē-əl\ adjective

legislatorship

play \ˈle-jə-ˌslā-tər-ˌship\ noun

See legislator defined for English-language learners

See legislator defined for kids

Examples of legislator in a Sentence

Write to your state legislator.
the legislators met in an all-night session to hammer out the details of the bill

Recent Examples of legislator from the Web

Kentucky passed its first-ever charter law this year — where are the Bluegrass State legislators?

— valerie strauss, Washington Post, "Betsy DeVos claims philosophy of Margaret ‘Iron Lady’ Thatcher as her own," 20 July 2017
And that’s just to cover the per diem that each legislator will receive, said RJ DeSilva, a spokesman for the Legislative Budget Board.

— anna m. tinsley, star-telegram, "Taxpayers’ tab at least $34,580 a day when Texas lawmakers meet in special session," 16 July 2017
Empirical work shows that legislators vote for the interests of their well-off constituents, not the public at large.

— The Economist, "Without governments, would countries have more inequality, or less?," 13 July 2017
Instead of being seen as environmental advocates, people like the General and Orr are often regarded by legislators as a threat to the state’s tourism and commerce.

— justin nobel, Longreads, "The Louisiana Environmental Apocalypse Road Trip," 13 July 2017
Override votes by local legislators fell along party lines.

— suzanne baker, Naperville Sun, "Mixed reaction in Naperville to state's first budget in two years," 7 July 2017
CPS is part of a statewide coalition of school districts that endorses the education funding model passed by legislators, Senate Bill 1.

— juan perez jr., chicagotribune.com, "Wall Street agency looks at CPS finances 'for a potential downgrade'," 6 July 2017
Adria Johnson, Kentucky's commissioner of social services, told state legislators in June that the number of children in state care has soared to 8,527, with about 500 children added in just the last few months.

— deborah yetter, The Courier-Journal, "Kentucky drug epidemic's smallest victims: Babies dying in their sleep," 6 July 2017
The Ohio Chamber of Commerce, Ohio Right to Life and Ohio Hospital Association – all longtime supporters of Medicaid expansion – pleaded with legislators to keep it.

— cincinnati enquirer, Cincinnati.com, "John Kasich scores another victory over GOP on Medicaid," 6 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of legislator

Latin legis lator, literally, proposer of a law, from legis (genitive of lex law) + lator proposer, from ferre (past participle latus) to carry, propose — more at tolerate, bear

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1513

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LEGISLATOR Defined for English Language Learners

legislator

play

noun

Definition of legislator for English Language Learners

: a person who makes laws : a member of a legislature

LEGISLATOR Defined for Kids

legislator

play

noun leg·is·la·tor \ˈle-jə-ˌslā-ˌtȯr, -ˌslā-tər\

Definition of legislator for Students

: a person who makes laws and is a member of a legislature

Law Dictionary

legislator

play

noun leg·is·la·tor \ˈle-jəs-ˌlā-tər, -ˌtȯr\

Legal Definition of legislator

: a person who makes laws especially for a political unit; especially : a member of a legislative body

legislatorial

\ˌle-jəs-lə-ˈtōr-ē-əl\ play adjective

legislatorship

noun

Origin and Etymology of legislator

Latin legis lator, literally, proposer of a law, from legis (genitive of lex law) + lator proposer, from ferre (past participle latus) to carry, propose