Definition

1. Verb:
   • To make or enact laws through a formal legislative process.
   • To bring something into effect or control it by means of passing laws.

Usage

• The verb "legislate" describes the action of a legislative body (like a parliament or congress) creating new laws or statutes.
• It can be used with a direct object (to legislate something) or without one (to legislate on an issue).
• It often implies an official, governmental process of lawmaking.

Examples

• Intransitive use (without a direct object):
  • The new parliament will legislate on environmental issues.
  • It is the primary function of Congress to legislate.
• Transitive use (with a direct object):
  • The government legislated new safety standards for the industry.
  • You cannot legislate morality. (Meaning: You cannot use laws to force people to be moral.)

Advanced Usage

• "to legislate for/against something": To create laws intended to promote or prevent a particular thing.
  • The state legislated against discrimination in the workplace.
  • They are attempting to legislate for greater transparency.
• "to legislate something into existence/out of existence": To create or abolish something by law.
  • The new agency was legislated into existence last year.

Variants and Related Words

• Legislation (n): Laws, considered collectively, or the process of making laws.
  • New legislation was introduced to address the crisis.
• Legislator (n): A person who makes laws; a member of a legislative body.
  • The legislator proposed a new bill.
• Legislative (adj): Relating to the making of laws.
  • The bill is now in the legislative process.
• Legislature (n): The body of people in a state or country with the power to make laws.
  • The state legislature meets twice a year.

Synonyms

• Enact: To make into law.
• Pass: To approve a law or bill.
• Ordain (formal): To order or establish by law.

Phrasal Verbs / Common Collocations

• Legislate away: To remove or eliminate something by passing a law.
  • They tried to legislate away the problem, but it persisted.
• Legislate on/upon: To make laws concerning a specific topic.
  • The committee is tasked with legislating upon digital privacy.

Verb

1. make laws, bills, etc. or bring into effect by legislation
   • They passed the amendment
   • We cannot legislate how people spend their free time