par ‧ lia ‧ ment W2 /ˈpɑːləmənt $ ˈpɑːr-/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: parlement , from parler ; ⇨ ↑ parley ]
1 . [countable , also + plural verb British English ] the group of people who are elected to make a country’s laws and discuss important national affairs ⇨ government , MP :
They demanded a free parliament and press.
2 . Parliament [ singular also + plural verb British English ] the main law-making institution in the UK, which consists of the ↑ House of Commons and the ↑ House of Lords
in Parliament
The government has actually increased its majority in Parliament.
⇨ ↑ hung parliament
3 . [countable] the period during which the British Parliament meets:
We expect to get these laws passed during the present parliament.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meanings 1 & 2)
■ verbs
▪ be elected to parliament
She was elected to parliament in 1997.
▪ stand for parliament (=try to be elected)
Ms Jackson stood for Parliament as a Labour candidate.
▪ enter/get into parliament (=be elected as a member of parliament)
Tony Blair first entered Parliament in 1983.
▪ be returned to Parliament (=be elected)
Creevey was returned to Parliament as MP for Appleby.
▪ a bill is passed by parliament (=it is made into a law)
The bill was passed by Parliament last May.
▪ a bill goes through parliament (=it goes through the process of being made a law)
The bill is currently going through Parliament.
▪ go before/be put before parliament (=be considered by parliament)
The Bill goes before Parliament on November 16.
▪ dissolve parliament formal (=officially end parliament before holding an election)
The Prime Minister will ask the Queen to dissolve Parliament and call an election.
■ phrases
▪ a member of parliament
He was the Conservative member of Parliament for Edgbaston.
▪ an act of parliament (=a law that has been passed by parliament)
Their rights are guaranteed by Act of Parliament.
▪ a seat in parliament (=a position as member of parliament)
If Morgan resigns his seat in Parliament, there will be a bye-election.
▪ a session of parliament (=when its members are working)
The Queen opened a new session of Parliament last week.
▪ the lifetime of a parliament (=from when a government is elected until it calls an election)
We shall not make changes in this area, at least in the lifetime of this Parliament.