long parliament: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Proficient)Historical/Academic/Formal
Quick answer
What does “long parliament” mean?
The English Parliament that was summoned by King Charles I in 1640 and sat, with various interruptions and changes in form, for 20 years until 1660, playing a central role in the English Civil War and the Interregnum.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The English Parliament that was summoned by King Charles I in 1640 and sat, with various interruptions and changes in form, for 20 years until 1660, playing a central role in the English Civil War and the Interregnum.
A historical term referring specifically to this unique parliamentary session in British constitutional history, notable for its unprecedented duration, its defiance of royal authority, and its pivotal role in shaping modern parliamentary sovereignty. More broadly, it can serve as a metaphor for any unusually long-lasting legislative body or political assembly.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively used in British and Commonwealth historical contexts. In American education, it may be covered in advanced World History or AP European History courses but is far less common in general discourse.
Connotations
In British discourse, it connotes a foundational moment in constitutional history, the struggle for parliamentary power, and the origins of the Commonwealth. It has strong political and legal historical weight.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general English. Appears almost entirely in historical texts, academic papers, and advanced political commentary drawing historical parallels.
Grammar
How to Use “long parliament” in a Sentence
The Long Parliament + past tense verb (sat, was summoned, lasted)During + the Long ParliamentThe legacy of + the Long ParliamentVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “long parliament” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The Long Parliament was famously reluctant to disband without its own consent.
- Historians debate the precise moment the Long Parliament effectively ended.
American English
- The Long Parliament is often studied as a case study in legislative defiance.
- Its duration made the Long Parliament a unique entity in English history.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used. Potentially in a metaphorical sense: 'Our budget review meeting is turning into the Long Parliament.'
Academic
Primary context. Used in History, Politics, and Law papers discussing 17th-century Britain, constitutional development, or the English Civil War.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Only among history enthusiasts or in educational settings.
Technical
Used as a precise historical term. May appear in legal history contexts discussing parliamentary sovereignty precedent.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “long parliament”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “long parliament”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “long parliament”
- Using lowercase ('long parliament').
- Using it to describe any lengthy modern parliamentary session.
- Confusing it with the 'Rump Parliament' (which was a fragment of the Long Parliament).
- Misspelling as 'Long Parliment'.
- Incorrectly associating it with a physical building.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It sat from 1640 to 1648, was purged by the Army (becoming the Rump Parliament), was forcibly dissolved by Cromwell in 1653, briefly reinstated in 1659-60, and finally dissolved itself in 1660 to make way for the Restoration.
The Short Parliament was summoned in April 1640 and lasted only three weeks before Charles I dissolved it for refusing grants. The Long Parliament was summoned later in 1640 and, learning from the Short Parliament's fate, passed acts to prevent its dissolution without its own consent.
Purely for its unprecedented duration of 20 years. No Parliament before it had sat for more than a few years, and none since has matched its continuous (though interrupted) lifespan under that name.
No. 'Long Parliament' is a proper noun for the specific 1640-1660 body. While modern parliaments have fixed-term lengths (currently five years), they are not referred to with capitalised 'Long'. Descriptively, one might call a session 'long', but it is not 'the Long Parliament'.
The English Parliament that was summoned by King Charles I in 1640 and sat, with various interruptions and changes in form, for 20 years until 1660, playing a central role in the English Civil War and the Interregnum.
Long parliament is usually historical/academic/formal in register.
Long parliament: in British English it is pronounced /ˌlɒŋ ˈpɑːləmənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌlɔːŋ ˈpɑːrləmənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Long in time, not in space. It sat through civil war and rule change, setting a lasting pace.'
Conceptual Metaphor
A DURATION IS LENGTH metaphor ('long' = extended time). Also, an INSTITUTION IS A BODY (it 'sits', is 'dissolved').
Practice
Quiz
What is the Long Parliament most famous for?