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Law vocabulary · Legal Systems & Sources of Law

Bill

Meaning in law, with examples

/bɪl/nounCore term

In law, bill means: A draft law presented to a parliament for debate and voting; it becomes an Act or statute only after it has been passed and formally approved.

In Turkish: kanun teklifi, kanun tasarısı, yasa önerisi

How it is used

Bills are 'introduced', 'debated', 'amended', 'passed' or 'rejected'. In the UK a bill becomes law when it receives Royal Assent; in the US it usually becomes law when the President signs it. Context matters: 'bill' also means an invoice, and a 'bill of costs' is a detailed statement of legal fees.

Example sentences

  1. The bill was amended twice before the final vote.

  2. If the bill becomes law, employers will have to publish pay data.

Common collocations

  • introduce a bill
  • pass a bill
  • draft bill
  • the bill becomes law
  • amend a bill
  • actA law passed by a parliament or other legislature, often named with a title and year such as the Companies Act 2006; also called an Act of Parliament.
  • legislatureThe elected body, such as a parliament or congress, that has the power to make, change and repeal laws.
  • enactTo pass a bill so that it officially becomes law; used of parliaments and other legislative bodies.
  • legislationLaws as a group, especially those made by a parliament; also the process of making these laws.
  • amendTo make changes to a law, contract or court document in order to correct or improve it, without replacing the whole text.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Legal Systems & Sources of Law

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.