legislator

noun

leg·​is·​la·​tor ˈle-jə-ˌslā-tər  -ˌslā-ˌtȯr 

 also  ˌle-jə-ˈslā-ˌtȯr

: one that makes laws especially for a political unit

especially : a member of a legislative body

legislatorial

ˌle-jə-slə-ˈtȯr-ē-əl 

adjective

legislatorship

ˈle-jə-ˌslā-tər-ˌship 

noun

Synonyms

• senator
• lawmaker
• lawgiver

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 on the Web

But Mamdani’s substantial campaign promises would require significant outside help to ultimately come to fruition, including cooperation from state legislators and Governor Kathy Hochul, who has vowed not to hike taxes on wealthy New Yorkers. —Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025

Tennessee legislators passed a law earlier this year that will allow sportsmen to hunt whitetail deer using bait, only on private land. —Austin Hornbostel, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2025

It was introduced collaboratively by five of the nine legislators – DaRon McGee, Donna Peyton, Manuel Abarca IV, Venessa Huskey and Sean Smith – and passed 8-0, with Jalen Anderson absent. —Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2025

In 2023, the Concussion Legacy Foundation worked with legislators in California on a bill banning tackle football for children under 12. —Alana Semuels, Time, 20 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

circa 1513, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for legislator

• activator
• actuator
• agitator
• alligator
• allocator
• alternator
• animator
• annotator
• applicator
• arbitrator
• aspirator
• aviator

Kids Definition

legislator

noun

leg·​is·​la·​tor ˈlej-ə-ˌslā-ˌtȯ(ə)r  -ˌslāt-ər 

: a person who makes laws

especially : a member of a legislature

Legal Definition

legislator

noun

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

: a person who makes laws especially for a political unit

especially : a member of a legislative body

legislatorial

ˌle-jəs-lə-ˈtōr-ē-əl 

adjective

legislatorship noun

Etymology

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