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
This month, the Republican governor called for a special session of the state legislature to help support Trump’s immigration agenda.
—
Vanessa G Sánchez and Daniel Chang, CNN, 23 Jan. 2025
Iowa’s agricultural zoning and permitting laws are written by the state legislature and carried out by the state’s Department of Natural Resources, each of which have close ties to Iowa’s powerful agribusiness lobby — as does Iowa’s governor and secretary of agriculture.
—Kenny Torrella, Vox, 23 Jan. 2025
Since the Texas legislature only meets every other year, the legalization debate will likely play out in 2027.
—Will Yakowicz, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
Alaskans continued to use the old name, and in 1975 the state’s legislature and governor requested a change back to Denali, which the federal government denied.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for legislature 
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Vanessa G Sánchez and Daniel Chang, CNN, 23 Jan. 2025
Iowa’s agricultural zoning and permitting laws are written by the state legislature and carried out by the state’s Department of Natural Resources, each of which have close ties to Iowa’s powerful agribusiness lobby — as does Iowa’s governor and secretary of agriculture.
—Kenny Torrella, Vox, 23 Jan. 2025
Since the Texas legislature only meets every other year, the legalization debate will likely play out in 2027.
—Will Yakowicz, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
Alaskans continued to use the old name, and in 1975 the state’s legislature and governor requested a change back to Denali, which the federal government denied.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for legislature
Dictionary Entries Near legislature
Cite this Entry
“Legislature.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legislature. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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