parliament
Americannoun
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(usually initial capital letter) the legislature of Great Britain, historically the assembly of the three estates, now composed of Lords Spiritual and Lords Temporal, forming together the House of Lords, and representatives of the counties, cities, boroughs, and universities, forming the House of Commons.
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(usually initial capital letter) the legislature of certain British colonies and possessions.
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a legislative body in any of various other countries.
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French History. any of several high courts of justice in France before 1789.
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a meeting or assembly for conference on public or national affairs.
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Cards. fan-tan.
noun
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the highest legislative authority in Britain, consisting of the House of Commons, which exercises effective power, the House of Lords, and the sovereign
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a similar legislature in another country
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the two chambers of a Parliament
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the lower chamber of a Parliament
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any of the assemblies of such a body created by a general election and royal summons and dissolved before the next election
noun
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an assembly of the representatives of a political nation or people, often the supreme legislative authority
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any legislative or deliberative assembly, conference, etc
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Also: parlement. (in France before the Revolution) any of several high courts of justice in which royal decrees were registered
Discover More
The number of nations governed by parliaments has greatly increased in modern times.
Other Word Forms
- antiparliament adjective
- interparliament adjective
- subparliament noun
Etymology
Origin of parliament
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English: “discourse, consultation, Parliament,” from Anglo-Latin parliamentum, alteration of Medieval Latin parlāmentum, from Old French parlement “a speaking, conference” ( parle, -ment ); replacing Middle English parlement, from Old French
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Iran has prepared for "all scenarios", including the way forward, its parliament's speaker said Sunday.
From Barron's
But, over the next 30 years, Khamenei developed networks of loyalists in every area of the Iranian establishment - including parliament, the judiciary, the police, the media, and the clerical elite.
From BBC
There was no immediate official response from Iran, but Ebrahim Azizi, the head of the Iranian parliament’s national security commission, vowed retaliation.
From Los Angeles Times
Labour has been in power since the parliament's predecessor, the National Assembly for Wales, opened its doors in Cardiff Bay 27 years ago.
From BBC
Two years later he entered parliament as one of its youngest members, and has since won re-election three times from a Kathmandu constituency.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
