legislature
gb/lˈɛd͡ʒɪslˌeɪt͡ʃɚ/ us/lˈɛd͡ʒɪslˌeɪt͡ʃɚ/
C1
English
~ 6100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C1
entity
1
official law‑making body of government
A group of people in government who have the official power to make or change the laws of a country, state, or region.
Usage pattern:
the [country/state] legislature; the legislature of [a place]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "legislature" with similar words:
- "legislator" (a person who makes laws, usually a member of a legislature).
- "legislation" (the laws themselves, or the process of making laws).
Also, some learners mistakenly use "legislature" to refer to the physical building; the correct term for the building is usually "parliament building", "capitol", or "legislative building" depending on the country.
Synonyms
parliament (Often used specifically for the national legislature in some countries (e.g., the UK, Canada); not a general technical term everywhere.)
|
legislative body (More technical and descriptive; can refer to any body with law‑making powers, not just at the national level.)
|
law-making body (Plain, descriptive phrase; less formal and less likely to be used as an official institutional name.)
Antonyms
executive (The branch of government that carries out and enforces laws, contrasted with the legislature, which makes laws.)
|
judiciary (The branch of government that interprets and applies laws in courts, as opposed to the legislature, which creates the laws.)
Collocations
state legislature
|national legislature
|bicameral legislature
|unicameral legislature
|dissolve the legislature
|elect the legislature
Themes
politics
|government
|law
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The legislature passed a new bill aimed at reducing pollution in major cities.
- Under the constitution, the president cannot dissolve the legislature without a national referendum.
- The state legislature meets only part of the year, so many members keep other jobs.
- Journalists crowded the building as the legislature debated the controversial reform package.
- The reform would give more power to regional legislatures at the expense of the national government.
Learner examples
- The state legislature makes laws for the people who live there.
- Many young people protested outside the legislature.
- The new tax law was approved by the legislature last week.
- She wants to work in the legislature when she finishes law school.
Grammar
Dictionary form
legislature
IPA
GB/lˈɛd͡ʒɪslˌeɪt͡ʃɚ/
US/lˈɛd͡ʒɪslˌeɪt͡ʃɚ/
Syllables & stress
le - gis - lature (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (le)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: legislature
- Plural: legislatures
Word family
Forms
legislatures
noun
Core family
Advanced or less common
legislatively
adverb
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.