# legislation

/ˌɫɛdʒəˈsɫeɪʃən/ (US) · /lˌɛdʒɪslˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/legislation
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a law or set of laws

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal · Academic

a law or a group of laws that have been officially passed by a government.

For teachers: a law or collective body of laws enacted by a legislature or other governing body.

- The government introduced new legislation to protect the environment from pollution.
- The proposed legislation underwent several amendments in the senate before it was finally ratified by the executive branch.

Usage: Uncountable when referring to laws collectively; individual items are usually called 'acts' or 'bills'.

### 2. the process of making laws

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Academic

the official process of preparing and passing new laws.

For teachers: the act or process of legislating; the preparation and enactment of laws.

- The legislation of these new rules took several months of debate.
- Effective legislation requires a delicate balance between public interest groups and the practical constraints of the legal system.

Usage: Always uncountable in this sense.

## Examples

- The government introduced new legislation to protect the environment.
- The parliament passed landmark legislation aimed at reducing carbon emissions across the industrial sector.
- Legal experts argue that the proposed legislation lacks the necessary enforcement mechanisms to effectively deter corporate tax evasion in the long term.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.