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

Two laws since passed by the Florida legislature to pre-empt local zoning regulations appeared to thwart those wishes. —Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2025

Consider, for example, the redundancy in the good-cause eviction requirement proposals that have been debated by the Maryland legislature. —Miranda Darden-Willems, Baltimore Sun, 20 Mar. 2025

Fate Of Legalization Bill Uncertain Previous bills to legalize medical cannabis or recreational marijuana have been rejected by the state legislature. —A.j. Herrington, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025

And in states like Utah, where license fee increases must be approved by the legislature, politicians are more likely to put the squeeze on out-of-staters than their own constituents. —Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 19 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1676, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for legislature

• nomenclature
• nature

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