Origin: Latin suffix -ure
Legislature has 2 different meanings across 1 category:
persons who make or amend or repeal laws
"The new bill was quickly drafted and passed by the legislature before the end of the session."
A governmental body with the power to make, amend and repeal laws.
"The state legislature voted last night to pass a new law requiring all drivers to wear seatbelts."
In plain English: A legislature is the group of elected officials who make and pass laws for a country or state.
"The local legislature voted to increase funding for public schools."
Usage: A legislature is the specific branch of government responsible for creating and passing laws, such as a state assembly or Congress. Use this term to refer to the elected body itself rather than individual lawmakers or the general process of making laws.
The word legislature entered English in 1676 by combining the root of legislator with a suffix meaning "state or condition." It is related to the French word législature but was formed directly from Latin elements within English.