Senate

//ˈsɛnət// name, noun

name, noun ·Moderate ·College level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    In some bicameral legislative systems, the upper house or chamber.
  2. 2
    assembly possessing high legislative powers wordnet
  3. 3
    A group of experienced, respected, wise individuals serving as decision makers or advisors in a political system or in institutional governance, as in a university, and traditionally of advanced age.

    "Before the Tyrant's throne All night his aged Senate sate."

  4. 4
    the upper house of the United States Congress wordnet
  5. 5
    In Germany, the executive branch of government in the city states of Berlin, Bremen, and Hamburg; the governments of cities that were part of the Hanseatic League; and the bench in a higher appellate court.
Proper Noun
  1. 1
    Any of several legislative bodies. (In countries which have multiple legislative bodies, the Senate is often the more senior.)
  2. 2
    The council that governed the ancient Roman Republic. historical
  3. 3
    The Senate of Canada; the upper house of the Canadian parliament; "the Senate". Canada
  4. 4
    The United States Senate. US
  5. 5
    The upper legislative body of many of the states of the United States. US
Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    The upper house of the Philippine Congress. Philippines

Example

More examples

"He was elected to the Senate in the last election."

Etymology

From Middle English senat, from Old French senat, from Latin senātus (“council of elders; a senate”), from senex (“old”). Doublet of Senedd.

Related phrases

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.