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 state has legislated myriad penalties against cities and counties that don’t find places for homeless people to sleep, including a command to incarcerate people caught sleeping on government property, which usually includes sidewalks and underpasses.
—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, Orlando Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2025
Congress, at least through Sept. 30, is in effect legislating a stronger executive branch that can basically do anything with the money lawmakers release.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 14 Mar. 2025
But Johnson’s supporters noted that legislating with only a slim majority in one chamber, and when a handful of Republicans would repeatedly tank party-line bills, was incredibly difficult.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 3 Jan. 2025
Congress was about to legislate that networks would be required to carry at least three hours of educational television for children each week.
—Carl Kurlander, Deadline, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legislate
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Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, Orlando Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2025
Congress, at least through Sept. 30, is in effect legislating a stronger executive branch that can basically do anything with the money lawmakers release.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 14 Mar. 2025
But Johnson’s supporters noted that legislating with only a slim majority in one chamber, and when a handful of Republicans would repeatedly tank party-line bills, was incredibly difficult.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 3 Jan. 2025
Congress was about to legislate that networks would be required to carry at least three hours of educational television for children each week.
—Carl Kurlander, Deadline, 10 Mar. 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 2 Apr. 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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