Word
senate
Phoneticssen·ate, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɛnət/
UK/sˈɛnət/
Definitions
01government chamber
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. the upper house of a parliament or government in many countries, like the US or Australia.
n. the upper chamber of a bicameral legislature, often possessing distinct powers regarding treaties, appointments, or constitutional review.
“The new law was passed by the lower house but rejected by the Senate.”
“The bill faced significant opposition in the Senate, where representatives from smaller regions argued that the proposed tax would unfairly impact their local economies.”
Synonyms
02university/institution council
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Academic · Formal
n. a group of senior members who make the most important decisions for a university.
n. the supreme academic governing body of a university, responsible for maintaining standards and approving degrees.
“The university senate met to discuss the new rules for student exams.”
“The academic senate convened to deliberate on the proposed changes to the faculty tenure process and the introduction of new interdisciplinary degrees.”
03Ancient Rome
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Literary
n. the powerful group of leaders who governed the ancient Roman Republic and Empire.
n. the supreme council of state in ancient Rome, which held varying degrees of power throughout the Republic and Empire.
“In ancient times, the Roman Senate decided whether the country should go to war.”
“Historians often debate the extent to which the Senate maintained its influence after the transition from the Roman Republic to the Empire.”
Synonyms
Usage
Usually capitalized when referring to a specific national institution (the Senate).
Real-World Examples
“Even after leaving the Senate early in 1997, she continued taking on public service roles.” “Nixon will compete against Republican Ashley Moody in November for the Senate seat Marco Rubio won in 2022.” Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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