verb
legislate
LEJ-iss-layt/ˈledʒɪsleɪt/
To make laws governing something.
The committee legislates new rules through a formal vote.
Etymology
The underlying image is 'bearing a law,' meaning bringing a law forward for proposal. The verb was formed from legislation or legislator to mean making or enacting laws.
In context
use eugenics to legislate how people should reproduce. >> What became a fundamental belief in the genetic inferiority of black people, Jews, and the so-called feeble minded, actively informed law making.
More examples
- Lawmakers legislated new safety standards.
- The council is legislating on rental conditions.
- A government cannot legislate affection between neighbors.
Forms
legislate · legislates · legislated · legislating
legislation noun — laws or the process of making them
Similar words
- enact
- Enact means put a law into effect; legislate describes making laws more generally.
- regulate
- Regulate means control through rules; legislating is one way to establish those rules.