A parliament is a group of elected representatives who make laws and decisions for a country or region. It is also the building where these representatives meet.
From Old French 'parlement', from 'parler' meaning 'to speak'. It originally meant a formal talk or meeting before becoming the name for legislative bodies.
The word 'parliament' just means 'a talking session' at its root—government as organized conversation. It’s a reminder that, in theory at least, laws come from people arguing and listening, not from magic or kings.
Parliaments in many countries excluded women entirely until the 20th century and then admitted them in very small numbers, reflecting legal and social barriers to women’s political participation. The institution’s language and procedures often assumed male members as the norm.
Use 'member of parliament' or similar gender-neutral titles, and avoid assuming parliamentarians are male by default.
["legislature","assembly","representative body"]
Women parliamentarians have been instrumental in advancing legislation on education, health, labor, and violence prevention, even when their contributions were minimized in official histories.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.