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

As early as 1876, petitions for the consolidation of the towns of Wyandotte County were discussed by city councils and the state legislature. —Elijah Winkler, Kansas City Star, 29 Mar. 2026

The issue has also come up in state legislatures. —Bracey Harris, NBC news, 28 Mar. 2026

Planning child care, multiple part time jobs and other responsibilities around an unpredictable work schedule can be stressful, workers say, but a proposal in the Connecticut legislature aims to help employees by requiring employers provide consistent schedules two weeks in advance. —Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026

The state attorney general, governor and legislature have gone to court over plans to use some of the money to balance the state budget. —Kaitlin Coward, Boston Herald, 27 Mar. 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