noun
legislature
LEHD-zhihs-luh-choor
noun
1
An official body of people, such as a parliament or congress, with the power to make, change, and repeal laws.
"The state legislature voted to raise the minimum wage."
"Bills must pass both chambers of the legislature before becoming law."
How to Use Legislature
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe group of elected people (like a parliament, congress, or state assembly) whose job is to make laws.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
state legislature
the legislature passed
members of the legislature
Word Forms
legislatures plural
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The state _____ voted to raise the minimum wage.
Etymology
From the stem of Latin legislator plus -ure, matching French législature; first recorded in English in the 1670s.