legislative

legislative — adjective

1. Connected to the creation, discussion, and official approval of new laws by a go

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

Connected to the creation, discussion, and official approval of new laws by a government.

Example

The new legislative proposal aims to reduce air pollution across the country.

legislative + proposal (collocation)

Tuan attended a public hearing on the legislative changes to tax law.

Common collocations
  • legislative proposal
  • legislative process
  • legislative measures
  • legislative changes
  • legislative matters
Synonyms
  • parliamentary

    Focuses specifically on the activities of a parliament; more British-leaning

  • law-making

    A direct compound adjective; less formal and less common in official contexts

Grammar Patterns

legislative + noun

Usage Note

Frequently used before a noun (attributive position). Appears most often in news reporting, political commentary, and official government documents.

Common Mistakes

The company must follow all legislative requirements' (when you mean 'legal').
The company must follow all legal requirements.
'Legislative' means relating to the making of laws, not to what the law itself says.

2. Belonging to or connected with the elected group of people who have the authorit

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

Belonging to or connected with the elected group of people who have the authority to make and change laws.

Example

The legislative branch of government is separate from the executive branch.

legislative branch (separation of powers)

Meera was elected to the legislative council representing her home district.

Common collocations
  • legislative branch
  • legislative body
  • legislative council
  • legislative assembly
  • legislative session
Synonyms
  • parliamentary

    Used specifically for systems with a parliament; less general

  • congressional

    American English — relates specifically to the US Congress

Antonyms
  • executive

    The branch of government that puts laws into action

  • judicial

    The branch of government that interprets laws in courts

Grammar Patterns

legislative + institution noun

Usage Note

Almost always used before a noun. Commonly paired with words that name government institutions: 'branch', 'body', 'council', 'assembly'. Distinguish from sense 1 ('LAW-MAKING'), which focuses on the process of creating laws rather than the institution that performs that work.

Common Mistakes

The legislative passed a new law yesterday.
The legislature passed a new law yesterday.
'Legislative' is an adjective, not a noun; the noun form is 'legislature'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words relate to laws, but they describe different aspects. 'Legislative' (B2) is the broadest term: it covers everything connected to the process and institution of creating laws. 'Parliamentary' (B2) is narrower, referring specifically to the workings of a parliament — it often appears in British and Commonwealth political contexts ('parliamentary debate', 'parliamentary procedure'). 'Law-making' (B1) is a plain, informal compound adjective that describes the action itself ('the law-making process') and works well in everyday speech. 'Legal' (A2) is the most common and the most distinct: it means 'permitted by law' or 'relating to the system of law' rather than 'relating to how laws are created'. For example, a 'legislative committee' writes new laws, but a 'legal committee' deals with court cases and existing regulations. Use 'legislative' when the focus is on the creation of law; use 'legal' when the focus is on what the law already says.

legislative ↗parliamentary ↗law-makinglegal ↗

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'legislative' came into English in the mid-1600s from French 'législatif', which itself came from Latin. The Latin root 'lex' (genitive 'legis') meant 'law', and 'latus' was the past participle of 'ferre' (to carry or bring). So 'legislativus' in Latin referred to someone or something that 'brings the law'. Over time, the word settled into English as an adjective describing the activity and institutions of making laws.