English Reference
noun

senate

n.
US /ˈsɛnət/ UK /sˈɛnət/ sen·ate UK spelling senate's, senate's

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the upper house of a parliament or government in many countries, like the US or Australia.

    the upper chamber of a bicameral legislature, often possessing distinct powers regarding treaties, appointments, or constitutional review.

    Simple

    The new law was passed by the lower house but rejected by the Senate.

    In context

    The bill faced significant opposition in the Senate, where representatives from smaller regions argued that the proposed tax would unfairly impact their local economies.

    upper houselegislature
  2. 02 C1 Advanced AcademicFormal

    a group of senior members who make the most important decisions for a university.

    the supreme academic governing body of a university, responsible for maintaining standards and approving degrees.

    Simple

    The university senate met to discuss the new rules for student exams.

    In context

    The academic senate convened to deliberate on the proposed changes to the faculty tenure process and the introduction of new interdisciplinary degrees.

    councilboardgoverning body
  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate Literary

    the powerful group of leaders who governed the ancient Roman Republic and Empire.

    the supreme council of state in ancient Rome, which held varying degrees of power throughout the Republic and Empire.

    Simple

    In ancient times, the Roman Senate decided whether the country should go to war.

    In context

    Historians often debate the extent to which the Senate maintained its influence after the transition from the Roman Republic to the Empire.

Even after leaving the Senate early in 1997, she continued taking on public service roles.

The Guardian· 22 Aug 2026

Nixon will compete against Republican Ashley Moody in November for the Senate seat Marco Rubio won in 2022.

The Guardian· 19 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Very common
Updated