legislature

noun

leg·​is·​la·​ture ˈle-jə-ˌslā-chər 

also ˌle-jə-ˈslā-

British often ˈle-jə-slə-chə

: a body of persons having the power to legislate

specifically : an organized body having the authority to make laws for a political unit

Examples of legislature in a Sentence

Our legislature passed a law requiring people to wear safety belts.

Each state has its own legislature.

Recent Examples on the Web

Interim Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota says that the Office of the County Executive, along with other county staffers and leaders, will present a master plan to the legislature later this spring, detailing a potential future for the stadium site. —Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 2026

Scores of lawmakers and union members heralded the return of the Worker Protection Act in the state Capitol on Thursday, six days before the legislature was set to settle in for its 2026 session. —Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 8 Jan. 2026

Scholars of the imperial presidency often say that public opinion — not the legislature or the courts — remains the strongest check on executive authority. —Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026

An effort to set that up stalled in the California legislature last year, but there's a growing pressure to revive something like it. —Kirk Siegler, NPR, 7 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1676, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for legislature

• nomenclature
• nature

Kids Definition

legislature

noun

leg·​is·​la·​ture ˈlej-ə-ˌslā-chər 

: an organized body of persons having the authority to make laws

Legal Definition

legislature

noun

leg·​is·​la·​ture ˈle-jəs-ˌlā-chər, -ˌchu̇r 

: a body of persons having the power to legislate

specifically : an organized body having the authority to make laws for a political unit (as a nation or state) compare executive, judiciary