legislation meaning and examples

2025-09-03

Meaning

Legislation is a noun that refers to laws or a body of laws that have been formally enacted by a government or legislature. It can also refer to the process of making or enacting laws.

Grammar and Usage

  • Part of speech: Noun (uncountable in general, but can also be countable when referring to specific laws).

  • Usage:

    • “Legislation” can mean the act of making laws (the process).
    • It can also mean the actual laws that are created.

  • Common sentence structures:

    • pass/introduce/approve legislation
    • under the legislation
    • new/existing legislation

Common Phrases

  • Environmental legislation – laws to protect the environment.
  • Labour legislation – laws related to workers’ rights.
  • Tax legislation – laws regarding taxes.
  • Draft legislation – proposed laws not yet passed.

Collocations

  • Verbs + legislation: pass, introduce, enact, enforce, repeal, oppose.
  • Adjectives + legislation: new, strict, comprehensive, proposed, current.
  • Nouns + legislation: environmental legislation, health legislation, criminal legislation.

Examples

  1. The government introduced new legislation to regulate online privacy.
  2. Many businesses are concerned about the effects of tax legislation.
  3. The parliament will debate the proposed legislation next week.
  4. Strict environmental legislation has reduced air pollution.
  5. The company was fined for not complying with existing legislation.
  6. Human rights groups are calling for stronger legislation to protect minorities.
  7. Under the new legislation, workers are entitled to more paid leave.
  8. The senator opposed the piece of legislation, claiming it would harm small businesses.
  • Law(s)
  • Act
  • Statute
  • Regulation
  • Decree
  • Ordinance