legislator

noun

leg·​is·​la·​tor ˈle-jə-ˌslā-tər How to pronounce legislator (audio) -ˌslā-ˌtȯr How to pronounce legislator (audio)
also ˌle-jə-ˈslā-ˌtȯr
Synonyms of legislatornext
: one that makes laws especially for a political unit
especially : a member of a legislative body
legislatorial
ˌle-jə-slə-ˈtȯr-ē-əl How to pronounce legislator (audio)
adjective
legislatorship
ˈle-jə-ˌslā-tər-ˌship How to pronounce legislator (audio)
noun

Synonyms of legislator

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Examples of legislator in a Sentence

Write to your state legislator. the legislators met in an all-night session to hammer out the details of the bill
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
She was briefly considered to be a Taiwan People's Party legislator candidate, but had backed out owing to questions about her loyalty and affiliation with China. — ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026 Minutes after federal prosecutors announced an indictment against Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota last week, a county legislator flatly suggested the case was just the beginning. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2026 Birth of the Brexit Party The party that became Reform UK emerged in early 2019 as British legislators were debating the details of how and when the country would exit the European Union. — Nick Tabor, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Aug. 2026 Beyond picking governors, state legislators, local officials and representatives to serve in Congress, voters in almost every state this year will have the opportunity to amend the language of their state constitution. — Quinn Yeargain, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for legislator

Word History

Etymology

Latin legis lator, literally, proposer of a law, from legis (genitive of lex law) + lator proposer, from ferre (past participle latus) to carry, propose — more at tolerate, bear

First Known Use

circa 1513, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of legislator was circa 1513

Rhymes for legislator

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Browse Nearby Words

legislatively
legislator
legislatorial
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Cite this Entry

“Legislator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legislator. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

legislator

noun
leg·​is·​la·​tor ˈlej-ə-ˌslā-ˌtȯ(ə)r How to pronounce legislator (audio) -ˌslāt-ər How to pronounce legislator (audio)
: a person who makes laws
especially : a member of a legislature

Legal Definition

legislator

noun
leg·​is·​la·​tor ˈle-jəs-ˌlā-tər, -ˌtȯr How to pronounce legislator (audio)
: a person who makes laws especially for a political unit
especially : a member of a legislative body
legislatorial
ˌle-jəs-lə-ˈtōr-ē-əl How to pronounce legislator (audio)
adjective
legislatorship noun
Etymology

Latin legis lator, literally, proposer of a law, from legis (genitive of lex law) + lator proposer, from ferre (past participle latus) to carry, propose

More from Merriam-Webster on legislator

Nglish: Translation of legislator for Spanish Speakers

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