bicameral

adjective

bi·​cam·​er·​al (ˌ)bī-ˈkam-rəl 

-ˈka-mə-

government : having, consisting of, or based on two legislative chambers (see chamber entry 1 sense 4a)

a bicameral legislature comprised of the House of Representatives and the Senate

bicameralism

(ˌ)bī-ˈkam-rə-ˌli-zəm

-ˈka-mə- 

noun

Examples of bicameral in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In effect since 1789 and amended 27 times, the Constitution has inspired the creation of other government charters around the world, particularly its separation of powers and bicameral legislature. —Meg Little Reilly, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

The bipartisan, bicameral CREATE AI Act would establish NAIRR in law. —Mackenzie Weinger, Axios, 11 Sep. 2024

In particular, the national charter provided for a powerful executive branch flanked by a bicameral legislature and a multilayered judiciary. —Sara Georgini, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Aug. 2024

Senator Charles Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) bipartisan and bicameral Endless Frontier Act, which would vastly increase federal R & D funding for critical technologies, is a promising first step; some of its $110 billion in new funding should be directed to Pentagon innovation. —Anja Manuel, Foreign Affairs, 29 July 2020

Word History

Etymology

bi- entry 1 + Late Latin camera chamber — more at chamber

First Known Use

circa 1832, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

bicameral

adjective

bi·​cam·​er·​al (ˈ)bī-ˈkam-(ə-)rəl 

: consisting of two legislative chambers

a bicameral legislature

Medical Definition

bicameral

adjective

bi·​cam·​er·​al (ˈ)bī-ˈkam-(ə-)rəl 

: having two chambers

Legal Definition

bicameral

adjective

bi·​cam·​er·​al ˌbī-ˈka-mə-rəl 

: having, consisting of, or based on two legislative chambers

a bicameral legislature

bicameralism

ˌbī-ˈka-mə-rə-ˌli-zəm 

noun

bicamerality

ˌbī-ˌka-mə-ˈra-lə-tē

noun