PARLIAMENTARY

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does parliamentary mean? 

• PARLIAMENTARY (adjective)
  The adjective PARLIAMENTARY has 3 senses:

1. relating to or having the nature of a parliament

2. having the supreme legislative power resting with a body of cabinet ministers chosen from and responsible to the legislature or parliament

3. in accord with rules and customs of a legislative or deliberative assembly

  Familiarity information: PARLIAMENTARY used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PARLIAMENTARY (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Relating to or having the nature of a parliament

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

a parliamentary body

Pertainym:

parliament (a legislative assembly in certain countries)

Derivation:

parliament (a legislative assembly in certain countries)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Having the supreme legislative power resting with a body of cabinet ministers chosen from and responsible to the legislature or parliament

Context example:

parliamentary government

Similar:

democratic (characterized by or advocating or based upon the principles of democracy or social equality)

Sense 3

Meaning:

In accord with rules and customs of a legislative or deliberative assembly

Context example:

parliamentary law

Similar:

democratic (characterized by or advocating or based upon the principles of democracy or social equality)

 Context examples 

Mr. President and gentlemen, he began, assuming a parliamentary attitude and tone, I wish to propose the admission of a new member—one who highly deserves the honor, would be deeply grateful for it, and would add immensely to the spirit of the club, the literary value of the paper, and be no end jolly and nice.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I find he was right, however; for it has not only lasted to the present moment, but has done so in the teeth of a great parliamentary report made (not too willingly) eighteen years ago, when all these objections of mine were set forth in detail, and when the existing stowage for wills was described as equal to the accumulation of only two years and a half more.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

One joyful night, therefore, I noted down the music of the parliamentary bagpipes for the last time, and I have never heard it since; though I still recognize the old drone in the newspapers, without any substantial variation (except, perhaps, that there is more of it), all the livelong session.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

My aunt and Mr. Dick represented the Government or the Opposition (as the case might be), and Traddles, with the assistance of Enfield's Speakers, or a volume of parliamentary orations, thundered astonishing invectives against them.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)