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parliament Definition

par·lia·ment (pär′lə mənt)

noun

  1. an official or formal conference or council, usually concerned with government or public affairs
    1. the national legislative body of Great Britain, composed of the House of Commons and the House of Lords
    2. the body of persons who make up Parliament for the period between elections
  3. any of several similar bodies in other countries
  4. any of several high courts of justice in France before 1789

Etymology: ME parlament < OFr parlement < parler: see parley

parliament Synonyms

parliament

n.

  1. National legislative body of Great Britain; usually capitalized

    House of Commons, House of Lords, British Legislature; see authority 3. committee, government 2, legislature.

  2. Meeting

    convention, convocation, congress; see gathering.

parliament Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • devolve: Low politics in devolved parliaments, local government, and high politics in Westminster government.
  • dissolve: As in the United Kingdom elections are every five years but the government can dissolve parliament and call an election at any time.
  • mislead: From now on, a prime minister will be able to mislead parliament and the public on the gravest matter and pay no price.
  • elect: He does not have to take a vote of confidence from the newly elected parliament.
  • summon: He can summon parliaments; it does not follow they will assemble.
  • lobby: Trade unionists were set to lobby parliament on Wednesday of this week against the government's plans.

Converse of subject

  • approve: A new coalition Cabinet was approved by parliament on May 5, 2000.
  • pass: Resources New Housing Act - The Housing Act was passed by parliament on November.

Adjective modifier

  • hung: We will have a real chance of getting the hung parliament we need to open up British politics for the 21st century.
  • Mozambican: Mulembue, a former attorney-general, is also chairman of the Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic.
  • Scottish: The Scottish parliament will have to lead by example.
  • Turkish: The Turkish parliament has now voted to support the United States as well.
  • European: How the EPP group in the European parliament got him the job.
  • national: More debate on EU issues in national parliaments is desirable.

Modifies a noun

  • building: The parliament building cruise experience holiday ship travel sightseeing busses found never crowded during ran into her.
  • square: We visited the parliament square and once again we were treated to wine and cake.

Noun used with modifier

  • fixed-term: I don't see why we shouldn't have fixed-term parliaments and indeed maybe term limits on prime ministers.
  • lobby: Lobby parliament for Asylum and Immigration Rights, 2.30pm, Tuesday 25 May, Grand Committee Room, House of Commons.
  • youth: Not on an island where the local leisure center is virtually the youth parliament.

Preposition: as

MP: Margaret joined the SNP in 1966 and entered parliament as MP for East Dunbartonshire, winning with a majority of just 22 in 1974.