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
Democrats have repeatedly highlighted that their redraws were approved by voters in statewide referenda, as opposed to GOP maps pushed through state legislatures.
—
Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 8 May 2026
Since then, both red and blue states have taken to their state legislatures to redistrict.
—Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 8 May 2026
Only on rare occasions do popes address foreign legislatures, and the speeches often end up among the most noteworthy of a pontificate.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Unions are a visible force in helping counter fierce opposition in communities and hostile legislation in Congress and legislatures, often aligning with traditional Republican pro-business constituencies and forcing Democrats to choose between them and progressives who want to take a harder line.
—Marc Levy, Fortune, 2 May 2026
Now, as courts revisit long-standing protections and legislatures redraw the political landscape, that assumption is being tested.
—Miami Herald, 2 May 2026
Connecticut governors and legislatures failed to save properly for pensions for seven decades prior to 2011, effectively forfeiting tens of billions in potential investment earnings and creating an enormous legacy of debt.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2026
The implications of the Supreme Court's decision on congressional maps could be felt more during House elections in 2028, when legislatures have had a chance to go through the process of mid-decade redistricting.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 1 May 2026
The rapid growth of prediction markets has sparked a high-stakes debate that is playing out in courts and legislatures all over the country.
—Jay Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 8 May 2026
Since then, both red and blue states have taken to their state legislatures to redistrict.
—Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 8 May 2026
Only on rare occasions do popes address foreign legislatures, and the speeches often end up among the most noteworthy of a pontificate.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Unions are a visible force in helping counter fierce opposition in communities and hostile legislation in Congress and legislatures, often aligning with traditional Republican pro-business constituencies and forcing Democrats to choose between them and progressives who want to take a harder line.
—Marc Levy, Fortune, 2 May 2026
Now, as courts revisit long-standing protections and legislatures redraw the political landscape, that assumption is being tested.
—Miami Herald, 2 May 2026
Connecticut governors and legislatures failed to save properly for pensions for seven decades prior to 2011, effectively forfeiting tens of billions in potential investment earnings and creating an enormous legacy of debt.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2026
The implications of the Supreme Court's decision on congressional maps could be felt more during House elections in 2028, when legislatures have had a chance to go through the process of mid-decade redistricting.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 1 May 2026
The rapid growth of prediction markets has sparked a high-stakes debate that is playing out in courts and legislatures all over the country.
—Jay Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legislatures
Noun
-
The elections saw Labour lose 1,498 councillors in England and lose control of both the Scottish and Welsh parliaments, prompting immediate demands for change in Downing Street.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
-
Thursday’s municipal elections marked the biggest political test for Starmer since Labour’s landslide victory in the 2024 General Election, with roughly 5,000 seats contested across 136 councils in England, in addition to six mayoral races and elections for the Scottish and Welsh parliaments.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
8 May 2026
Noun
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The rooms Designed like authentic Goan houses, each with its own distinct colors and landscaping, the resort seems quiet even when full (conference groups love this place).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 May 2026
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The change in beds, food, schedules and houses put a toll on our physical body that takes days to recover.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2026
Noun
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The list of signatories includes many of the field’s most prominent names, more than 50 of whom have spoken at previous congresses.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
26 Mar. 2026
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Palestinian soccer officials have long argued — including at FIFA annual congresses across the past 15 years, before Infantino was president — that Israel violates statutes by letting teams from settlements in the West Bank play in the national league.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Legislatures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legislatures. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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