legislator

noun

leg·​is·​la·​tor ˈle-jə-ˌslā-tər How to pronounce legislator (audio) -ˌslā-ˌtȯr How to pronounce legislator (audio)
also ˌle-jə-ˈslā-ˌtȯr
Synonyms of legislatornext
: one that makes laws especially for a political unit
especially : a member of a legislative body
legislatorial
ˌle-jə-slə-ˈtȯr-ē-əl How to pronounce legislator (audio)
adjective
legislatorship
ˈle-jə-ˌslā-tər-ˌship How to pronounce legislator (audio)
noun

Synonyms of legislator

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Examples of legislator in a Sentence

Write to your state legislator. the legislators met in an all-night session to hammer out the details of the bill
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.
And Republican legislators’ proposals to cut income tax rates would cost the state almost $1 billion annually by 2028. — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 29 Oct. 2026 Landon Dais is a New York state legislator who represents the Bronx. — Bob Herman, STAT, 29 Oct. 2026 City leaders, for example, might make a case to their legislators for remediation funding or cleanup funding included in the MPCA's budget. — CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026 Her father and mother had divorced, but Juan Fernandez’s legend had been fixed as a brawling union leader and New Mexico state legislator. — James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for legislator

Word History

Etymology

Latin legis lator, literally, proposer of a law, from legis (genitive of lex law) + lator proposer, from ferre (past participle latus) to carry, propose — more at tolerate, bear

First Known Use

circa 1513, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of legislator was circa 1513

Rhymes for legislator

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Browse Nearby Words

legislatively
legislator
legislatorial
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Cite this Entry

“Legislator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legislator. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

legislator

noun
leg·​is·​la·​tor ˈlej-ə-ˌslā-ˌtȯ(ə)r How to pronounce legislator (audio) -ˌslāt-ər How to pronounce legislator (audio)
: a person who makes laws
especially : a member of a legislature

Legal Definition

legislator

noun
leg·​is·​la·​tor ˈle-jəs-ˌlā-tər, -ˌtȯr How to pronounce legislator (audio)
: a person who makes laws especially for a political unit
especially : a member of a legislative body
legislatorial
ˌle-jəs-lə-ˈtōr-ē-əl How to pronounce legislator (audio)
adjective
legislatorship noun
Etymology

Latin legis lator, literally, proposer of a law, from legis (genitive of lex law) + lator proposer, from ferre (past participle latus) to carry, propose

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