legislate
verb
leg·is·late
ˈle-jə-ˌslāt 
legislated; legislating
: to perform the function of legislation
specifically
: to make or enact laws
: to mandate, establish, or regulate by or as if by legislation
Examples of legislate in a Sentence
They are attempting to legislate morality.
the need to better legislate foreign trade
trying to legislate changes in the current law
Recent Examples on the Web
The simple truth is that quality parental outcomes can’t be legislated, nor can they be forced.
—
John Tamny, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
There is maybe a disconnect to what is written in a report like our Energy Transition Outlook, and the reality of legislating and implementing the energy transition on the ground.
—Sverre Alvik, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
Similarly, Jarrett Jack’s lethal rip-through move became Kevin Durant’s and Chris Paul’s, until the league legislated away the advantage.
—John Hollinger, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
The issue is not whether citizenship laws should change—Congress can always legislate within constitutional bounds—but whether the executive can reinterpret foundational constitutional rights unilaterally, without effective judicial review.
—Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for legislate
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John Tamny, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
There is maybe a disconnect to what is written in a report like our Energy Transition Outlook, and the reality of legislating and implementing the energy transition on the ground.
—Sverre Alvik, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
Similarly, Jarrett Jack’s lethal rip-through move became Kevin Durant’s and Chris Paul’s, until the league legislated away the advantage.
—John Hollinger, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
The issue is not whether citizenship laws should change—Congress can always legislate within constitutional bounds—but whether the executive can reinterpret foundational constitutional rights unilaterally, without effective judicial review.
—Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for legislate
Cite this Entry
“Legislate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legislate. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
legislate
verb
leg·is·late
ˈlej-ə-ˌslāt
legislated; legislating
1
: to make laws
the constitutional power to legislate
2
: to cause, establish, or regulate by legislation
legislating foreign trade
Legal Definition
legislate
verb
leg·is·late
ˈle-jəs-ˌlāt
legislated; legislating
: to perform the function of legislation
specifically
: to make or enact laws
: to cause, create, provide, or bring about by legislation
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