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

Congress and state legislatures should investigate and hold the FDA accountable for ignoring overwhelming evidence of harm. —Lila Rose, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025

The California legislature is planning to provide $20 billion for the financially- and managerially-challenged California High-Speed Rail Authority that’s in charge of this scheme. —Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025

An increasingly socially conservative Indiana legislature has made schools the chief battleground of the culture wars. —Cate Charron, IndyStar, 17 Sep. 2025

For the law to change, the legislature would need to send the Governor a bill. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025

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