parliament
noun
par·lia·ment
ˈpär-lə-mənt 
also
ˈpärl-yə-
1
: a formal conference for the discussion of public affairs
specifically
: a council of state in early medieval England
2
a
: an assemblage of the nobility, clergy, and commons called together by the British sovereign as the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom
b
: a similar assemblage in another nation or state
3
a
: the supreme legislative body of a usually major political unit that is a continuing institution comprising a series of individual assemblages
b
: the British House of Commons
4
: one of several principal courts of justice existing in France before the Revolution of 1789
Examples of parliament in a Sentence
The parliament has authority over the armed forces.
The issue was debated in Parliament.
The law was passed in the present parliament.
Recent Examples on the Web
The former clinical psychologist and barrister is also one of the leading pro-Palestinian voices in parliament - a stance shared by government and most voters.
—
CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
The answer is that removing that tile would require an act of parliament.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 24 Oct. 2025
Buckingham read Mercury's 1971 confession aloud in parliament on Thursday, breaking down crying multiple times, according to the ABC.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Because parliament was riven among pro-democracy parties, the communists, and the Nazis, Papen was able to govern by emergency decree But parliament could still topple his government with a vote of no confidence, and thus Papen needed the parliamentary parties not to actively oppose him.
—Time, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for parliament
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CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
The answer is that removing that tile would require an act of parliament.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 24 Oct. 2025
Buckingham read Mercury's 1971 confession aloud in parliament on Thursday, breaking down crying multiple times, according to the ABC.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Because parliament was riven among pro-democracy parties, the communists, and the Nazis, Papen was able to govern by emergency decree But parliament could still topple his government with a vote of no confidence, and thus Papen needed the parliamentary parties not to actively oppose him.
—Time, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for parliament
Cite this Entry
“Parliament.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parliament. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
parliament
noun
par·lia·ment
ˈpär-lə-mənt
also
ˈpärl-yə-
: the supreme legislative body of various political units
the British parliament
Legal Definition
parliament
noun
par·lia·ment
ˈpär-lə-mənt, ˈpärl-yə-
1
a
: an assemblage of the nobility, clergy, and commons called together by the British sovereign as the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom
b
: a similar assemblage in another nation or state
2
: the supreme legislative body of a usually major political unit that is a continuing institution comprising a series of individual assemblages
Etymology
Anglo-French parlement conference, council, parliament, from parler to speak
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