Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
bicameral

bicameral

3 8.6
With two separate chambers, like a parliament with two houses
  • adjective
  • /baɪˈkæmərəl/
translation icon : bicameral
  • The law charged the 12-member bicameral committee with finding $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction over ten years.
  • bicameral legislature
  • bicameral committee

Examples

  • The United States is a democracy with a bicameral legislature, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

  • The United States is a democracy with a bicameral legislature and separation of powers.

    Blog text (8)

  • The plan called for a bicameral regional legislature.

    Academic text (1990)

  • Local government became effectively bicameral.

    Academic text (1993)

  • In principle, it is a choice between a unicameral and bicameral parliament.

    Blog text (23)

  • The bicameral Russian Supreme Soviet was a thoroughly new variable in the Russian foreign policymaking process.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Likewise, a bicameral legislature in a federal parliamentary system, such as Germany, may incentivize executive oversight.

    Academic text (2016)

  • Unlike the United States, Zambia lacks the checks inherent in a federal state with a bicameral legislature.

    Academic text (1994)

  • However, we find that bicameral legislatures do not develop stronger committees than unicameral legislatures.

    Academic text (2016)

  • Delaware's delegates supported the Great Compromise, which created our bicameral system with the House based on equality of population and the Senate based on the equality of states.

    Academic text (2016)

Synonyms

two-chambered
vsbicameral
  • Specialized
6.0

Having two separate chambers, as in some hearts or machines

is used mainly for lawmaking bodies that have two houses

Antonyms

unicameral
1 8.1

A law-making body with only one house instead of two

Compounds

bicameral legislature
1 6.6

A body that makes laws with two separate houses, for example a Senate and a lower house

bicameral script
  • Specialized
8.9

A writing system whose letters have both capital and small forms

How Many Chambers

bicameral
3 8.6
unicameral
1 8.1

Surface Forms

bicameral positive

Morphology

bicameral = cameral (semi-transparent) = bi + cameral

The prefix 'bi-' (two) is transparent, but the adjective 'cameral' is rare in modern English and learners may not recognise it or connect it with 'chamber', so the formation is only partly obvious.

Etymology

Bicameral comes from bi- meaning 'two' and the same root as chamber meaning 'room' or 'house'. So bicameral literally means 'two rooms' and is used for bodies such as parliaments that have 'two houses' or two main parts.