as in parliaments
a group of people with the power to make or change laws
Our legislature passed a law requiring people to wear safety belts. Each state has its own legislature. state legislatures
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Recent Examples of legislatures
The issue has also come up in state legislatures.
—
Bracey Harris, NBC news, 28 Mar. 2026
Jim Steyer, the chief executive of Common Sense Media, said the outcomes so far show that the courts, state legislatures and foreign governments are now aligning to reshape Silicon Valley.
—Arkansas Online, 26 Mar. 2026
In response to the issue, state legislatures have passed social media restrictions before, though many have failed — being struck down by the courts due to free speech concerns.
—Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 25 Mar. 2026
Republicans control the legislatures in all three states and the governor’s office in two of them.
—ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
None of those measures have become official policy, though some are still being debated in legislatures.
—William McCorkle, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026
The petitions to put the issue to voters are part of a wave of new ballot initiatives designed to bypass state legislatures.
—Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2026
To prevent this consequence, local and state level policy makers must empower tenants to fight against unjust evictions and battle unjust rent raises through legislatures.
—Chloe Wong, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2026
Debates about education policy belong in legislatures and elections, not in empty classrooms.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Bracey Harris, NBC news, 28 Mar. 2026
Jim Steyer, the chief executive of Common Sense Media, said the outcomes so far show that the courts, state legislatures and foreign governments are now aligning to reshape Silicon Valley.
—Arkansas Online, 26 Mar. 2026
In response to the issue, state legislatures have passed social media restrictions before, though many have failed — being struck down by the courts due to free speech concerns.
—Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 25 Mar. 2026
Republicans control the legislatures in all three states and the governor’s office in two of them.
—ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
None of those measures have become official policy, though some are still being debated in legislatures.
—William McCorkle, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026
The petitions to put the issue to voters are part of a wave of new ballot initiatives designed to bypass state legislatures.
—Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2026
To prevent this consequence, local and state level policy makers must empower tenants to fight against unjust evictions and battle unjust rent raises through legislatures.
—Chloe Wong, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2026
Debates about education policy belong in legislatures and elections, not in empty classrooms.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legislatures
Noun
-
The 213-seat upper house is scheduled to open Wednesday, with 14 regional parliaments set to convene two days after that.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Mar. 2026
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In general, any agreements to end a war must be signed by the presidents, and then they must either be ratified by parliaments or through a referendum.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Tucked away in a quiet corner of the grounds, the spa has the same haute-hippie vibe as the houses.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
-
To be sure, America is short by multiple millions of houses.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The list of signatories includes many of the field’s most prominent names, more than 50 of whom have spoken at previous congresses.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
26 Mar. 2026
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Palestinian soccer officials have long argued — including at FIFA annual congresses across the past 15 years, before Infantino was president — that Israel violates statutes by letting teams from settlements in the West Bank play in the national league.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Legislatures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legislatures. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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