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

Governors and legislatures here have been criticized for years for using borrowing to cover certain non-education municipal grants — which could be paid for in cash through the state budget — and to cover a generous array of annual small projects in legislators’ home districts. —Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 28 Nov. 2024

Zourabichvili was elected by popular vote, but Georgia has approved constitutional changes that abolished the direct election of the president and replaced it with a vote by a 300-seat electoral college consisting of members of parliament, municipal councils and regional legislatures. —Sophiko Megrelidze, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2024

The committee has also pushed for legislation to increase speed camera fines based on how fast drivers are traveling, but the bills have failed to pass through the state legislature. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024

Outside the legislature, the ban has come under heavy scrutiny from parents and scholars who say that social media can be a crucial source of support for young people, especially those who feel marginalized. —Peter Guo, NBC News, 28 Nov. 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