parliament
gb/pˈɑɹləmənt/ us/pˈɑɹləmənt/
B1
English
~ 1100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
National legislative body
The main group of people in a country who make laws.
Usage pattern:
[Parliament] + [verb]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'parliament' with 'government'. 'Parliament' refers to the law-making group, while 'government' can mean the whole system or the people who run it.
Synonyms
legislature (A more general term for any law-making body, not necessarily national or modeled on the British system.)
Antonyms
executive (Refers to the branch of government that enforces laws, which is the counterpart to the legislative branch.)
Collocations
Parliament building
|Parliament session
|dissolve Parliament
|member of Parliament
|Parliament debate
Themes
politics
|government
|law
Examples
- Parliament will vote on the new education bill tomorrow.
- The Prime Minister addressed Parliament during the afternoon session.
- Protesters gathered outside Parliament to demand action on climate change.
- Parliament passed a law to improve healthcare services.
- The President dissolved Parliament and called for new elections.
Learner examples
- Parliament makes the laws in the country.
- Many people work in Parliament.
- Parliament meets to talk about new rules.
- Parliament voted for a new law.
- She is a member of Parliament.
Noun
B2
event
2
Meeting of a legislature
A time when members of Parliament meet to talk and make decisions.
Usage pattern:
[Parliament] + [verb] / during [Parliament]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the permanent institution; here it means a specific meeting period.
Synonyms
session (A more general term for any formal meeting period, not limited to legislatures.)
Collocations
in Parliament
|during Parliament
|attend Parliament
Themes
politics
|government
|law
Examples
- Several important issues were discussed in Parliament this week.
- During Parliament, members debated new tax reforms.
- Foreign policy was a major topic in Parliament today.
Learner examples
- We talked about health care in Parliament.
- They work hard during Parliament.
- I saw her speak in Parliament.
Noun
literary
C1
entity
3
Group of owls
A special word for a group of owls, used in stories or poems.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this meaning is common in everyday speech; it is mostly used in literature.
Synonyms
flock (A general term for a group of birds; less specific and less poetic than 'parliament'.)
Themes
animals
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- A parliament of owls watched from the trees.
- In the moonlight, a parliament of owls gathered silently.
- The poet described the forest as home to a parliament of owls.
Learner examples
- I saw a parliament of owls in the book.
- The story talked about a parliament of owls.
- We learned that a group of owls is called a parliament.
Grammar
Dictionary form
parliament
IPA
GB/pˈɑɹləmənt/
US/pˈɑɹləmənt/
Syllables & stress
par - lia - ment (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (par)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: parliament
- Plural: parliament, parliaments
Word family
Forms
parliaments
noun
Core family
parliamentary
adjective B2
Related words
parliamentarian
noun
Negative and opposite forms
unparliamentary
adjective
Expressions
dissolve Parliament
1/dɪzˈɑlv pˈɑɹləmənt/
fixed phrase
formal
End legislature's term early
To officially stop Parliament from meeting, usually before an election.
Examples
- The President decided to dissolve Parliament and call for early elections.
- The crisis led the Prime Minister to dissolve Parliament.
member of Parliament
1/mˈɛmbɚ əv pˈɑɹləmənt/
fixed phrase
Elected national legislator
A person who has been elected to work in Parliament and make laws.
Examples
- She was elected as a member of Parliament last year.
- Members of Parliament debated the new environmental policy.
open Parliament
1/ˈoʊpən pˈɑɹləmənt/
fixed phrase
formal
Begin legislature session formally
To officially start a new period when Parliament meets.
Examples
- The Queen will open Parliament next week with a speech.
- They will open Parliament after the national holiday.
Parliament House
1/pˈɑɹləmənt hˈaʊs/
fixed phrase
Legislature's main building
The main building where Parliament meets.
Examples
- Tourists visited Parliament House during their trip to Canberra.
- Security was tightened around Parliament House after the protest.