as in parliaments
a group of people with the power to make or change laws
Our legislature passed a law requiring people to wear safety belts. Each state has its own legislature. state legislatures
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Recent Examples of legislatures
The court's ruling also applies to state legislatures, county commissions, city councils and local school boards.
—
Sarah Clifton, USA Today, 16 May 2026
The Soros’ announcement did not say how the foundations will define antisemitism — a point of contention on college campuses and in state legislatures where debates have raged over whether criticism of Israel amounts to hatred of Jewish people.
—James Pollard, Fortune, 13 May 2026
In a May 7 round of elections for local council seats in England and seats in the semi-autonomous legislatures of Wales and Scotland, Starmer's Labour Party lost big.
—Frank Andrews, CBS News, 12 May 2026
But that logic effectively reduces state legislatures to instruments of national party strategy, rather than independent governing bodies accountable first to their own voters.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
The directive runs counter to Florida’s long tradition that records are assumed to be public unless specifically shielded, although legislatures have carved a slew of exclusions into that law over the years.
—Monique O. Madan, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2026
Democrats have repeatedly highlighted that their redraws were approved by voters in statewide referenda, as opposed to GOP maps pushed through state legislatures.
—Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 8 May 2026
Only on rare occasions do popes address foreign legislatures, and the speeches often end up among the most noteworthy of a pontificate.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Now, as courts revisit long-standing protections and legislatures redraw the political landscape, that assumption is being tested.
—Miami Herald, 2 May 2026
Sarah Clifton, USA Today, 16 May 2026
The Soros’ announcement did not say how the foundations will define antisemitism — a point of contention on college campuses and in state legislatures where debates have raged over whether criticism of Israel amounts to hatred of Jewish people.
—James Pollard, Fortune, 13 May 2026
In a May 7 round of elections for local council seats in England and seats in the semi-autonomous legislatures of Wales and Scotland, Starmer's Labour Party lost big.
—Frank Andrews, CBS News, 12 May 2026
But that logic effectively reduces state legislatures to instruments of national party strategy, rather than independent governing bodies accountable first to their own voters.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
The directive runs counter to Florida’s long tradition that records are assumed to be public unless specifically shielded, although legislatures have carved a slew of exclusions into that law over the years.
—Monique O. Madan, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2026
Democrats have repeatedly highlighted that their redraws were approved by voters in statewide referenda, as opposed to GOP maps pushed through state legislatures.
—Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 8 May 2026
Only on rare occasions do popes address foreign legislatures, and the speeches often end up among the most noteworthy of a pontificate.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Now, as courts revisit long-standing protections and legislatures redraw the political landscape, that assumption is being tested.
—Miami Herald, 2 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legislatures
Noun
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The elections saw Labour lose 1,498 councillors in England and lose control of both the Scottish and Welsh parliaments, prompting immediate demands for change in Downing Street.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
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Thursday’s municipal elections marked the biggest political test for Starmer since Labour’s landslide victory in the 2024 General Election, with roughly 5,000 seats contested across 136 councils in England, in addition to six mayoral races and elections for the Scottish and Welsh parliaments.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
8 May 2026
Noun
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Still under construction are a series of woodland houses and cottages, two Padel courts and an ambitious Roman-style bath house.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
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They've been called granny flats, carriage houses, or mother-in-law suites.—
Lee Cowan,
CBS News,
17 May 2026
Noun
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The list of signatories includes many of the field’s most prominent names, more than 50 of whom have spoken at previous congresses.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
26 Mar. 2026
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Palestinian soccer officials have long argued — including at FIFA annual congresses across the past 15 years, before Infantino was president — that Israel violates statutes by letting teams from settlements in the West Bank play in the national league.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Legislatures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legislatures. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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