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Unicameral: meaning, definitions and examples

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unicameral

 

[ juːnɪˈkæmərəl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

government structure

The term 'unicameral' refers to a legislative body that consists of a single chamber or house. This type of governance is typically contrasted with bicameral systems, which have two separate chambers or houses. Unicameral legislatures can facilitate faster decision-making and can simplify the legislative process by reducing the number of stages through which a bill must pass. Countries like New Zealand and Sweden operate under a unicameral system, allowing for a streamlined approach to governance.

Synonyms

one-body, single-chamber

Examples of usage

  • New Zealand has a unicameral parliament.
  • Many smaller countries opt for a unicameral system for efficiency.
  • The unicameral legislature met to discuss the proposed budget.
  • Advocates argue that unicameral systems reduce bureaucracy.

Translations

Translations of the word "unicameral" in other languages:

🇵🇹 unicameral

🇮🇳 एक सदनीय

🇩🇪 einkammerig

🇮🇩 satu kamar

🇺🇦 однопалатний

🇵🇱 jednokomorowy

🇯🇵 一院制

🇫🇷 unicaméral

🇪🇸 unicameral

🇹🇷 tek kamara

🇰🇷 단원제

🇸🇦 وحيد الغرفة

🇨🇿 jednokomorový

🇸🇰 jednokomorový

🇨🇳 单院制

🇸🇮 enokomorna

🇮🇸 einn þing

🇰🇿 бір палаталы

🇬🇪 ერთპალატიან

🇦🇿 tək palatalı

🇲🇽 unicameral

Etymology

The word 'unicameral' originates from the combination of the prefix 'uni-', meaning 'one' or 'single', and the Latin word 'camera', meaning 'chamber'. The term began to gain prominence in the English language in the early 20th century, as political science became a more established field of study. As nations debated the merits of legislative structures, the concept of unicameralism emerged as a viable alternative to the more common bicameral legislature, influencing constitutional reforms in several countries. The simplicity of having a single legislative body appealed to many reformers who sought to reduce governmental complexity and improve legislative efficiency.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #30,938 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.