: the closing or limitation of debate in a legislative body especially by calling for a vote
clotured; cloturing; clotures
: to close (debate) in a legislative body by cloture
Debate over the bill was short Tuesday evening. After an initial debate Tuesday afternoon, Senate Republicans clotured debate when the bill returned later in the day.—
Brian Lyman
Brian LymanExamples of cloture in a Sentence
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Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 3 Aug. 2025
The nomination was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and a cloture motion was presented in the Senate on July 29.
—Ally Goelz, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2025
The backlog of nominees has prompted Senate Republicans to discuss a variety of rules reforms, such as getting rid of the two hours of debate time that must elapse between a key procedural step called a cloture vote and a final vote.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 31 July 2025
With 15 Democrats voting for the bill to pass the cloture threshold this week, the proponents have the votes necessary to avoid a filibuster.
—Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 21 May 2025
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Noun
On Saturday, Judge Jason A. Reding Quiñones secured a 51-41 cloture vote in the U.S. Senate.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 3 Aug. 2025
The nomination was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and a cloture motion was presented in the Senate on July 29.
—Ally Goelz, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2025
The backlog of nominees has prompted Senate Republicans to discuss a variety of rules reforms, such as getting rid of the two hours of debate time that must elapse between a key procedural step called a cloture vote and a final vote.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 31 July 2025
With 15 Democrats voting for the bill to pass the cloture threshold this week, the proponents have the votes necessary to avoid a filibuster.
—Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cloture
Cite this Entry
“Cloture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cloture. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
cloture
noun
clo·ture
ˈklō-chər 
: the closing or limitation of debate in a legislative body especially by calling for a vote
cloture
transitive verb
Etymology
Noun
French clôture, literally, closure
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