ENGLISH
REFERENCE

legislative

adj.
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˈɫɛdʒəˌsɫeɪtɪv// UK //lˈɛdʒɪslətˌɪv// leg·isla·tive

adj. related to the making of laws. You use this to describe the part of a government that has the power to write and pass new rules.

adj. relating to the process of making or enacting laws. Typically describes the branch of government or the specific powers responsible for statutory creation.


SIMPLE

The government is planning new legislative changes.

CONTEXTUAL

The legislative branch of the government spent months debating the new environmental protection bill before it finally passed.

COMPLEX

The country's legislative framework underwent a significant overhaul to align national trade standards with international treaties, requiring a series of complex amendments to existing statutes.

Origin

From legislate + -ive.

Usage

Typically precedes the noun it modifies; frequently collocated with 'branch', 'process', or 'agenda'.

© 2026 English Reference