legislate

UK: /ˈlɛdʒɪsleɪt/ US: /ˈlɛdʒɪsˌleɪt/ ,(lej′is lāt′)

Inflections of 'legislate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

legislates

v 3rd person singular

legislating

v pres p

legislated

v past

legislated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

leg•is•late /ˈlɛdʒɪsˌleɪt/   v., -lat•ed, -lat•ing. 

1. Government to make or create laws:
   [no object] It is Congress's responsibility to legislate effectively for the people.
2. Government to create or control by legislation:
   [~ + object] attempts to legislate morality.

leg•is•la•tor, n. [countable] See -leg-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

leg•is•late  (lej′is lāt′), v., -lat•ed, -lat•ing. 
v.i. 

1. Government to exercise the function of legislation;
   make or enact laws.

v.t. 

2. Government to create, provide, or control by legislation:
   attempts to legislate morality.

• back formation from legislation, legislator 1710–20

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

legislate / ˈlɛdʒɪsˌleɪt/ verb

1. (intransitive) to make or pass laws
2. (transitive) to bring into effect by legislation

Etymology: 18th Century: back formation from legislator