legislature

noun

leg·​is·​la·​ture ˈle-jə-ˌslā-chər How to pronounce legislature (audio)
also ˌle-jə-ˈslā-
British often ˈle-jə-slə-chə
Synonyms of legislaturenext
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
State legislatures are out of their respective sessions for 2026, as their members campaign for reelection. — Jon McGowan, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 In 2018, the legislature passed a law requiring them for unions who counted less than 50% of the bargaining unit as dues-paying members. — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026 This exception is rooted in the Pennsylvania legislature’s public policy choices made decades ago. — George A. Mocsary, The Conversation, 7 July 2026 The Maryland legislature is set to convene a special session next month after Democratic lawmakers proposed a constitutional amendment on redistricting. — Erin Cox, Washington Post, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for legislature

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1676, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of legislature was circa 1676

Rhymes for legislature

See All Rhymes for legislature

Browse Nearby Words

legislatress
legislature
legist
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Legislature.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legislature. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

legislature

noun
leg·​is·​la·​ture ˈlej-ə-ˌslā-chər How to pronounce legislature (audio)
: an organized body of persons having the authority to make laws

Legal Definition

legislature

noun
leg·​is·​la·​ture ˈle-jəs-ˌlā-chər, -ˌchu̇r How to pronounce legislature (audio)
: 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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All