Meaning

(now chiefly historical) A formal council summoned (especially by a monarch) to discuss important issues..

Definitions by Sense

1. (now chiefly historical) A formal council summoned (especially by a monarch) to discuss important issues.
2. In many countries, the legislative branch of government, a deliberative assembly or set of assemblies whose elected or appointed members meet to debate the major political issues of the day, make, amend, and repeal laws, authorize the executive branch of government to collect and spend money, and in some cases exercise judicial powers; a legislature.
3. A particular assembly of the members of such a legislature, as convened for a specific purpose or period of time (commonly designated with an ordinal number – for example, first parliament or 12th parliament – or a descriptive adjective – for example, Long Parliament, Short Parliament and Rump Parliament).
4. (collective) A gathering of birds, especially rooks or owls.
5. (historical) Parliament cake, a type of gingerbread.
6. (UK) a length of time for which a parliament is summoned, in modern times therefore the period between two consecutive elections.

Example Sentences

By the 13th Century, a parliament was when kings met up with English barons to raise cash for fighting wars - mostly against Scotland.

The row started over who will run for parliament in a wealthy rightwing constituency on the left bank in Paris, a safe seat for Sarkozy's ruling UMP.

Following the general election, Jane Doe took her oath of office as a member of the nation's fifth parliament.

The acts made in the first Parliament of our most high and dread soveraigne Charles, by the grace of God, King of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c. […]

[T]he army under Lambert again thrust the Rump Parliament out of doors, and commenced a new military government, by means of a committee of officers, called the Council of Safety.

"The people at home call it a rook's parliament when a whole crowd of rooks settle on some bare, wide common, and sit there as if they were consulting, not feeding, only stalking about with drooping wings, and solemn black cloaks."

Man is not the random collection of atoms with no opportunity for redemption. A mere school of fish, a gaggle of geese, a pride of lions, and a congress of baboons—am I to believe these lower primates are my ancestors? And if I should ask a parliament of owls, what might they say?

He'd seen a parliament of rooks a hundred strong fall on and kill one of their number amongst the nodding barley rows, and had been shown a yew that had the face of Jesus in its bark.

Word Forms

• parliaments
• Parliament
• parlament

Synonyms for parliament

Related Words

When Should You Use Parliament?

Use parliament when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

Practice This Word

Frequently Asked Questions