What does "parliament" mean?
A formal council summoned (especially by a monarch) to discuss important issues.
Parliament
/ˈpɑːləmənt/ name, noun
name, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A formal council summoned (especially by a monarch) to discuss important issues.
- Grammar: parliament is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: assembly, assembly, bicameral legislature, bill making unit.
- Useful contrasts: adjournment, dictatorship, executives.
- Usage evidence: Parliament has its beginnings in 14th-century England.
How to use "parliament"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "parliament" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "parliament" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "parliament" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "parliament" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "parliament" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "assembly" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "parliament", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A formal council summoned (especially by a monarch) to discuss important issues. countable, historical, uncountable
"By the 13th Century, a parliament was when kings met up with English barons to raise cash for fighting wars - mostly against Scotland."
- 2 a card game in which you play your sevens and other cards in sequence in the same suit as the sevens; you win if you are the first to use all your cards wordnet
- 3 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. countable, uncountable
"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."
- 4 a legislative assembly in certain countries wordnet
- 5 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). countable, uncountable
"Following the general election, Jane Doe took her oath of office as a member of the nation's fifth parliament."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 A gathering of birds, especially rooks or owls. collective, countable, uncountable
""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.""
- 7 Parliament cake, a type of gingerbread. countable, historical, uncountable
"He […] was disposed to spoil little Georgy, sadly gorging the boy with apples and parliament, to the detriment of his health—until Amelia declared that George should never go out with his grandpapa unless the latter promised solemnly, and on his honour, not to give the child any cakes, lollipops, or stall produce whatever."
Proper Noun
- 1 Alternative letter-case form of parliament, a specific parliament, particularly that of England or the United Kingdom. alt-of
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Parliament has its beginnings in 14th-century England."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "parliament"?
Common synonyms include: assembly, assembly, bicameral legislature, bill making unit, board of aldermen, bundestag.
How do you use "parliament" in a sentence?
Parliament has its beginnings in 14th-century England.
How do you pronounce "parliament"?
Pronounced /ˈpɑːləmənt/.
Etymology
From Middle English parlement, from Anglo-Norman parliament, parlement, parliment and Old French parlement (“discussion, meeting, negotiation; assembly, council”), from parler (“to speak”) + -ment (“-ment”, suffix forming nouns from verbs, usually indicating an action or state resulting from them) (from Latin -mentum). Compare Medieval Latin parlamentum, parliamentum (“discussion, meeting; council or court summoned by the monarch”), Italian parlamento and Sicilian parramentu.