house of lords: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal
Quick answer
What does “house of lords” mean?
The upper chamber of the British Parliament, consisting mainly of appointed or hereditary members.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The upper chamber of the British Parliament, consisting mainly of appointed or hereditary members.
The House of Lords reviews and revises legislation proposed by the House of Commons. It also serves as a forum for detailed scrutiny of public policy and can delay, but not ultimately block, most legislation. Its members include life peers, hereditary peers, and Lords Spiritual (senior bishops).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Exclusively a British institution. The US equivalent is the Senate, but the functions and composition differ significantly. Americans would use the term only in the context of discussing the UK political system.
Connotations
In the UK, connotations can vary: historical prestige, unelected scrutiny, political delay, or a revising chamber of expertise. In the US, the term has purely descriptive, foreign-political connotations.
Frequency
High frequency in UK political and news contexts; very low frequency in general US discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “house of lords” in a Sentence
The House of Lords + verb (e.g., rejected, approved, debated, amended) + [legislation][Legislation/issue] + verb (e.g., was sent, went) + to the House of LordsMember/Peer + of the House of LordsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “house of lords” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The bill was heavily house-of-lordsed (colloquial/metaphorical for 'scrutinised and delayed').
American English
- Not applicable as a verb in standard usage.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- A House-of-Lords committee published a critical report.
- He has a House of Lords manner (suggesting old-fashioned dignity).
American English
- Not applicable as an adjective in standard US usage.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in discussions about regulatory changes approved or amended by Parliament.
Academic
Common in political science, history, and law contexts discussing the UK constitution, bicameralism, and legislative processes.
Everyday
Used in news reports about UK politics. General conversation might reference it in simplified terms ('the other part of Parliament').
Technical
Used precisely in legal, parliamentary, and political discourse to refer to specific legislative actions, committee work, or constitutional roles.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “house of lords”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “house of lords”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “house of lords”
- Using lowercase ('house of lords') – it's a proper name.
- Omitting the definite article 'the' ('House of Lords debated...' should be 'The House of Lords debated...').
- Confusing its role with the Supreme Court (which replaced its judicial function).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the vast majority of its members are not elected by the public. They are appointed (life peers) or inherit their titles (hereditary peers), with some bishops sitting ex officio.
It can delay most laws for about a year and force the Commons to reconsider, but under the Parliament Acts, the Commons can ultimately override the Lords' objections and pass the law without their consent.
An MP (Member of Parliament) is elected by a constituency to sit in the House of Commons. A Lord (Peer) is a member of the House of Lords, typically appointed or holding a hereditary title, and does not represent a geographical constituency.
It is defended as a chamber of scrutiny and revision that brings independent expertise and a longer-term perspective to lawmaking, free from short-term electoral cycles. It is also a significant part of the UK's constitutional history and tradition.
The upper chamber of the British Parliament, consisting mainly of appointed or hereditary members.
House of lords is usually formal in register.
House of lords: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhaʊs əv ˈlɔːdz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhaʊs əv ˈlɔːrdz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Through the Lords (meaning legislation is being considered by the House of Lords)”
- “A creature of the Lords (a bill originating in the Lords)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'LORDS' live in a 'HOUSE' (chamber) above (upper house) the COMMONS (common people).
Conceptual Metaphor
GOVERNMENT IS A BUILDING (with different chambers); SCRUTINY IS REVIEW; TRADITION IS A FOUNDATION.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary constitutional function of the House of Lords?