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
Manny Abarca, Jalen Anderson and Venessa Huskey are running for county committeeships alongside their legislature re-election campaigns.
—
Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2026
Guy-Sheftall said privates tend to be more insulated from political pressure, particularly in Southern states where legislatures and regent boards — often dominated by conservatives — wield significant power over public universities.
—Jason Armesto, AJC.com, 4 Apr. 2026
In 2012, 73 percent of Coloradans approved Amendment 65, which instructs our legislature and congressional delegation to support a federal constitutional amendment allowing reasonable limits on campaign spending.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
The legislature is now making that protection durable and consistent across every courtroom in the state.
—Ivan J. Bates, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for legislature
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.
Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2026
Guy-Sheftall said privates tend to be more insulated from political pressure, particularly in Southern states where legislatures and regent boards — often dominated by conservatives — wield significant power over public universities.
—Jason Armesto, AJC.com, 4 Apr. 2026
In 2012, 73 percent of Coloradans approved Amendment 65, which instructs our legislature and congressional delegation to support a federal constitutional amendment allowing reasonable limits on campaign spending.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
The legislature is now making that protection durable and consistent across every courtroom in the state.
—Ivan J. Bates, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for legislature
Cite this Entry
“Legislature.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legislature. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
