parliament

noun

par·​lia·​ment ˈpär-lə-mənt 

also

ˈpärl-yə- 

1

: a formal conference for the discussion of public affairs

specifically : a council of state in early medieval England

2

a

: an assemblage of the nobility, clergy, and commons called together by the British sovereign as the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom

b

: a similar assemblage in another nation or state

3

a

: the supreme legislative body of a usually major political unit that is a continuing institution comprising a series of individual assemblages

b

: the British House of Commons

4

: one of several principal courts of justice existing in France before the Revolution of 1789

Synonyms

• congress

Examples of parliament in a Sentence

The parliament has authority over the armed forces.

The issue was debated in Parliament.

The law was passed in the present parliament.

Recent Examples on the Web

The parliament is also next to Borsen, as the building is called. —Christian Wienberg, Fortune Europe, 16 Apr. 2024

Nevertheless, some parliament members were concerned about the practical implications of such a ban. —Anna Gordon, TIME, 16 Apr. 2024

Under a multi-party, first-past-the-post system, Indians will vote to fill 543 of 545 seats in the lower house of parliament, called the Lok Sabha, with two other seats nominated by the country’s president. —Helen Regan, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024

The other is the parliament speaker, Szymon Hołownia, who had once considered becoming a Dominican friar. —Vanessa Gera, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Apr. 2024

The new parliament starts its four-year term at the end of May. —Se Eun Gong, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024

Slovakia's president has limited power but does ratify international treaties, appoint judges, serves as commander in chief of the armed forces and can veto laws passed by parliament. —John Bacon, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024

Meanwhile, a draft law in parliament to widen the parameters of who can be conscripted has undergone thousands of amendments. —Isabelle Khurshudyan, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024

Earlier this month, Britain’s parliament also approved a ban on the import of hunting trophies, prompting Botswana officials to threaten to flood London's Hyde Park with 10,000 elephants. —Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 3 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English parlement, parliament "discourse, conversation, conference, assembly, assembly of the lay and ecclesiastical aristocracy, the Parliament of England or Ireland," borrowed from Anglo-French, from parler "to speak" + -ment -ment — more at parley entry 2

Note: The Anglo-French word was Latinized as parlamentum or parliamentum by the early 13th century. The source of forms with internal -ia- is uncertain. The Oxford English Dictionary, third edition, compares Latin amerciamentum, merciamentum "discretionary penalty or fine" (beside Anglo-French amercement, mercement; see amerce) and maniamentum "possession, administration" (Anglo-French maniement).

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing parliament

• hung parliament

Kids Definition

parliament

noun

par·​lia·​ment ˈpär-lə-mənt 

also

ˈpärl-yə- 

: the supreme legislative body of various political units

the British parliament

Etymology

Middle English parliament "a council for discussing government business," from early French parlement (same meaning), from parler "to speak" — related to parley, parlor see Word History at parlor

Legal Definition

parliament

noun

par·​lia·​ment ˈpär-lə-mənt, ˈpärl-yə- 

1

a

: an assemblage of the nobility, clergy, and commons called together by the British sovereign as the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom

b

: a similar assemblage in another nation or state

2

: the supreme legislative body of a usually major political unit that is a continuing institution comprising a series of individual assemblages

Etymology

Anglo-French parlement conference, council, parliament, from parler to speak