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
Here are some of the proposals being considered as state legislatures begin their sessions.
—
Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
Land prices have become astronomically out of reach for most people, outside wealth continues to pour into our states, and politicians in Congress and our state legislatures increasingly side with wealthy landowners.
—Karlee Provenza, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
Most states also use this single-member district system to elect members of their state legislatures.
—Jennifer Lynn McCoy, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2026
The Republican Party has had majority control in the majority of state legislatures since the mid-1990s.
—Literary Hub, 9 Feb. 2026
State legislatures play a crucial role in American governance.
—Charlie Hunt, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2026
International climate agreements like the Paris accord set targets but are implemented through national legislatures, courts and elections, where governments remain accountable to their citizens and can be voted out.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
Still, questions remain about the sway health experts will have in state legislatures.
—Isabella Cueto, STAT, 29 Jan. 2026
Two-thirds of all state legislatures can also call for an amendment, which would trigger a constitutional convention.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2025
Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
Land prices have become astronomically out of reach for most people, outside wealth continues to pour into our states, and politicians in Congress and our state legislatures increasingly side with wealthy landowners.
—Karlee Provenza, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
Most states also use this single-member district system to elect members of their state legislatures.
—Jennifer Lynn McCoy, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2026
The Republican Party has had majority control in the majority of state legislatures since the mid-1990s.
—Literary Hub, 9 Feb. 2026
State legislatures play a crucial role in American governance.
—Charlie Hunt, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2026
International climate agreements like the Paris accord set targets but are implemented through national legislatures, courts and elections, where governments remain accountable to their citizens and can be voted out.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
Still, questions remain about the sway health experts will have in state legislatures.
—Isabella Cueto, STAT, 29 Jan. 2026
Two-thirds of all state legislatures can also call for an amendment, which would trigger a constitutional convention.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legislatures
Noun
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Branting was Sweden’s Prime Minister at the time they were awarded the prize, while Lange became secretary-general of the Inter-Parliamentary Union—an international organization of national parliaments—in 1909 and managed the organization through the first World War.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
16 Jan. 2026
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Nominations can be made by a variety of individuals including members of national parliaments or governments, previous laureates, university professors in relevant fields and members of international courts.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Controlled at different periods by Chinese, Indians, Portuguese, and Dutch settlers, the city boasts red brick houses typical of the Netherlands, a number of Portuguese buildings, and mosques and temples representing its Chinese and Malay past.—
Annabelle Dufraigne,
Architectural Digest,
15 Feb. 2026
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The grassroots group has sponsored educational forums on water conservation, waste management, worm farming, composting, electrification of houses along with renewable energy.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The foundation hosts biannual congresses, with panels devoted to discussing recent threats to the rule of law, and awarding honors to lawyers who defend it.—
Fabio Bertoni,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
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More than 300 full and non-voting delegates of the powerful Central Committee will gather in Beijing for the closed-door plenum, one of seven meetings typically held within five years, between party congresses.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Legislatures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legislatures. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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