legislator

noun

leg·​is·​la·​tor ˈle-jə-ˌslā-tər How to pronounce legislator (audio) -ˌslā-ˌtȯr How to pronounce legislator (audio)
 also  ˌle-jə-ˈslā-ˌtȯr
: one that makes laws especially for a political unit
especially : a member of a legislative body
legislatorial adjective
legislatorship noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This process notably allows federal legislators to bypass a filibuster and requires only a simple majority to repeal federal rules rather than the typical 60 votes. Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025 Some of the new regulations require companies issuing stablecoins to hold a reserve of assets to back the cryptocurrency, a provision that some legislators reportedly argued would protect consumers and prevent the stablecoin from crashing amid a broader selloff. Ty Roush, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025 While some legislators were scrambling Wednesday to pass the bill on artificial intelligence, other groups were simultaneously busy on other key issues. Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 19 May 2025 But Democratic legislators eventually agreed to direct the funds to his office. Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 18 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for legislator

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of legislator was circa 1513

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Legislator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legislator. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

legislator

noun
leg·​is·​la·​tor ˈlej-ə-ˌslā-ˌtȯ(ə)r How to pronounce legislator (audio) -ˌslāt-ər How to pronounce legislator (audio)
: a person who makes laws
especially : a member of a legislature

Legal Definition

legislator

noun
leg·​is·​la·​tor ˈle-jəs-ˌlā-tər, -ˌtȯr How to pronounce legislator (audio)
: a person who makes laws especially for a political unit
especially : a member of a legislative body
legislatorial 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

More from Merriam-Webster on legislator

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