state duma: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (specialist/political context)Formal, Academic, News
Quick answer
What does “state duma” mean?
The lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia, its main legislative body.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia, its main legislative body.
The Russian parliament's directly elected chamber, responsible for passing federal laws, approving the prime minister, and overseeing the government. Historically, the term also refers to the first elected parliament of the Russian Empire (1906–1917).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and capitalisation are consistent.
Connotations
Both variants carry the same institutional and political connotations.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, appearing primarily in international news, history, and political science contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “state duma” in a Sentence
The State Duma [verb e.g., passed, rejected, convened]A bill in the State DumaElections to the State DumaA deputy of the State DumaVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “state duma” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The government hopes to have the bill Duma-approved by autumn.
- The law was Duma-passed last session.
American English
- The legislation was Duma-passed last week.
- They aim to get the treaty Duma-ratified.
adjective
British English
- They discussed the Duma agenda for the week.
- It was a significant Duma decision.
American English
- The Duma vote was scheduled for Friday.
- He is a leading Duma committee member.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in reports on Russian legislation affecting trade or sanctions.
Academic
Common in political science, history, and Russian studies texts.
Everyday
Very rare, typically only encountered in news headlines about Russia.
Technical
Specific to political and governmental terminology concerning Russia.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “state duma”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “state duma”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “state duma”
- Incorrect: 'state duma' (not capitalised).
- Incorrect: 'the Duma State'.
- Incorrect: using 'Duma' to refer to parliaments of other countries.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when referring to the Russian institution, 'Duma' or 'State Duma' is always capitalised as it is a proper noun.
No, in modern English usage, 'Duma' specifically refers to the Russian State Duma or its historical predecessor. Other countries' parliaments have their own names (e.g., Bundestag, Diet, Knesset).
The State Duma is the lower, directly elected house of Russia's Federal Assembly. The Federation Council is the upper house, representing the federal subjects of Russia.
Elections for the State Duma are constitutionally scheduled every five years, barring early dissolution.
The lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia, its main legislative body.
State duma is usually formal, academic, news in register.
State duma: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsteɪt ˈduːmə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsteɪt ˈduːmə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Through the Duma's halls (referring to the legislative process)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a STATE giving a DOOM-ah (a decree or judgement) – the State Duma makes state-level decisions.
Conceptual Metaphor
A MACHINE OF LAW (it processes and produces legislation).
Practice
Quiz
What is the State Duma?