as in parliaments
a group of people with the power to make or change laws
Our legislature passed a law requiring people to wear safety belts. Each state has its own legislature. state legislatures
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Recent Examples of legislatures
Debates about education policy belong in legislatures and elections, not in empty classrooms.
—
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
According to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, Connecticut governors and legislatures failed to save adequate for pension benefits for more than seven decades prior to 2011.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
Driven in part by Kennedy’s advocacy, state legislatures from California to Texas are moving to curb chemical-laden products in schools.
—Wendy R. Anderson, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2026
Other legislatures have faced similar questions.
—ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
The exceptions would be Florida and Texas, where Republicans have controlled the state legislatures for decades.
—Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 9 Mar. 2026
Oklahoma is number one because all the other states have legislatures involved in it.
—Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice, 6 Mar. 2026
Nineteen state legislatures have laws on the books making similar provisions, but the Uniform Time Act of 1966 prevents those measures from taking effect without the consent of the federal government.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 5 Mar. 2026
While political pressure from angry homeowners is likely to keep some legislatures on track to cut property taxes, efforts to eliminate property taxes on a homeowner's primary residence face a difficult path.
—CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
According to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, Connecticut governors and legislatures failed to save adequate for pension benefits for more than seven decades prior to 2011.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
Driven in part by Kennedy’s advocacy, state legislatures from California to Texas are moving to curb chemical-laden products in schools.
—Wendy R. Anderson, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2026
Other legislatures have faced similar questions.
—ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
The exceptions would be Florida and Texas, where Republicans have controlled the state legislatures for decades.
—Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 9 Mar. 2026
Oklahoma is number one because all the other states have legislatures involved in it.
—Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice, 6 Mar. 2026
Nineteen state legislatures have laws on the books making similar provisions, but the Uniform Time Act of 1966 prevents those measures from taking effect without the consent of the federal government.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 5 Mar. 2026
While political pressure from angry homeowners is likely to keep some legislatures on track to cut property taxes, efforts to eliminate property taxes on a homeowner's primary residence face a difficult path.
—CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legislatures
Noun
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The 213-seat upper house is scheduled to open Wednesday, with 14 regional parliaments set to convene two days after that.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Mar. 2026
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In general, any agreements to end a war must be signed by the presidents, and then they must either be ratified by parliaments or through a referendum.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Emma Stone Emma Stone shimmered in a simple empire waist design with cap sleeves by one of her favorite fashion houses, Louis Vuitton.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
16 Mar. 2026
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Residents in houses gathered on rooftops and hung out of windows, with one girl with her leg outside tossing beers down from the second story to her friends on the porch.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The foundation hosts biannual congresses, with panels devoted to discussing recent threats to the rule of law, and awarding honors to lawyers who defend it.—
Fabio Bertoni,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
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More than 300 full and non-voting delegates of the powerful Central Committee will gather in Beijing for the closed-door plenum, one of seven meetings typically held within five years, between party congresses.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Legislatures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legislatures. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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