legislate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "legislate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of making or enacting laws. Example: "The government plans to legislate new regulations to improve environmental protection."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But the one that irks conservatives most is Roe v Wade.The American wayOther countries expect their legislators to legislate on contentious moral issues.

The Economist

It's not a very prescriptive working theory, unless your priors lead you to believe that the solution to any given problem is decentralisation of power.All of which is to say that it's all well and good to argue that legislators and regulators aren't going to have enough knowledge to regulate and legislate, and should therefore be stripped of some of their powers.

The Economist

Many more whales and dolphins die each year through pollution, bycatch, ship-strike: who is going to legislate for them?

The Guardian - Opinion

My party and, indeed, the Conservative party have been on record as being very against the proposal by the previous Labour government, for instance, to legislate for a wider amnesty and we want to see the rule of law always be applied.

The Guardian

The Tory manifesto said in vague terms that a Conservative government "would legislate to ensure trade unions use a transparent opt-in process for union subscriptions", but made no mention of the political levy.

The Guardian

The issue is a political hot potato in a country forever debating the power of Europe to legislate our lives.

The Guardian

Such a failure to legislate would be a moral hazard of such a scale as to confirm, even to many unionists, that the UK government has indeed become corrupted, and that the referendum was won on a lie.

The Guardian - Opinion

Savings from the higher education package remain factored in to the budget bottom line because the government says it will try a third time to legislate these changes, despite the Senate holding firm in opposition.

The Guardian

"Our review will tell us the best ways to legislate for adoption equality, to make sure we get it right.

The Guardian

The government will legislate to make sure those groups it intended to exempt from the excise increases – primarily farmers and miners – would not have to pay the increase.

The Guardian

But its chances also depend on how Fidesz will legislate on voter registration, because its goal is to usher Fidesz voters to the polls and keep the undecided at home.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To maintain clarity, specify the subject or area that the legislation pertains to immediately after using "legislate", such as 'legislate environmental protections'.

Common error

Avoid using "legislate" in casual conversation; reserve it for formal discussions of legal and governmental processes. Instead of saying 'I'm going to legislate some rules in my house', consider alternatives like 'I'm setting some ground rules'.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "legislate" is as a verb, indicating the action of making or enacting laws. Ludwig AI confirms its usage is correct and usable in written English. The examples show it used when describing governmental actions and legislative processes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

2%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "legislate" is a verb that means to make or enact laws, primarily used in formal and neutral contexts such as news and media. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, the word is considered grammatically correct. The most frequent usage occurs in news contexts. When writing, ensure the context clearly identifies the body or authority enacting the legislation. Alternatives include "enact laws" and "pass legislation", depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Enact laws

Focuses on the action of putting a law into effect.

Pass legislation

Emphasizes the approval process of laws.

Establish rules

Highlights the creation of governing guidelines.

Formulate regulations

Focuses on the detailed development of rules.

Approve statutes

Specifically refers to the formal approval of written laws.

Implement policies

Emphasizes putting agreed policies into practice.

Decree mandates

Suggests an authoritative command or order being issued.

Ordinance measures

Implies local or municipal law-making.

Codify rights

Refers to the systematic arrangement of laws into a code.

Prescribe norms

Suggests setting standards or behaviors through law.

FAQs

How is "legislate" used in a sentence?

The verb "legislate" means to make or enact laws. For example: "Congress must "legislate" on this matter promptly." You can also say "pass legislation" or "enact laws".

What's the difference between "legislate" and "regulate"?

"Legislate" refers specifically to the process of making or enacting laws, while "regulate" means to control or maintain something according to a set of rules or laws. One can "legislate" new environmental laws, and then "regulate" industrial emissions according to those laws.

What can I say instead of "legislate"?

Alternatives to "legislate" include "enact laws", "pass legislation", "establish rules", or "formulate regulations" depending on the specific context.

Why do governments need to "legislate"?

Governments "legislate" in order to create a framework of laws that govern society, protect rights, and maintain order. These laws define the legal responsibilities and obligations of citizens and organizations.