legislature

noun

leg·​is·​la·​ture ˈle-jə-ˌslā-chər 

 also  ˌle-jə-ˈslā-,

 British often  ˈle-jə-slə-chə

: a body of persons having the power to legislate

specifically : an organized body having the authority to make laws for a political unit

Examples of legislature in a Sentence

Our legislature passed a law requiring people to wear safety belts.

Each state has its own legislature.

Recent Examples on the Web

Shortly after Trump's electoral victory, Governor Gavin Newsom called a special session of the state legislature. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024

That creates a temptation and an incentive for the majority in the state legislature to try to alter governmental institutions to benefit their side politically. —Christopher Cooper / Made By History, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024

The legislature advanced a bill that would prohibit parents in the future from citing religious beliefs as a reason not to vaccinate their school-age children but agreed to grandfather in all children in public and private schools who had held religious exemptions from vaccination. —Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 10 Dec. 2024

Both chambers of the Wisconsin state legislature are some of the most inactive in the country, with their legislative calendars being in session less than half the year. —Annabella Rosciglione, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1676, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

legislature

noun

leg·​is·​la·​ture ˈlej-ə-ˌslā-chər 

: an organized body of persons having the authority to make laws

Legal Definition

legislature

noun

leg·​is·​la·​ture ˈle-jəs-ˌlā-chər, -ˌchu̇r 

: a body of persons having the power to legislate

specifically : an organized body having the authority to make laws for a political unit (as a nation or state) compare executive, judiciary