first reading

noun

In the UK and various other countries, the initial presentation or announcement of a bill (proposed legislation) to a parliament or legislature, or chamber thereof. In the UK, this takes place without debate and is followed by the publication of the bill for members to examine prior to the second reading.

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Meanings

nounfirst reading (plural first readings)

plural first readings

  1. In the UK and various other countries, the initial presentation or announcement of a bill (proposed legislation) to a parliament or legislature, or chamber thereof. In the UK, this takes place without debate and is followed by the publication of the bill for members to examine prior to the second reading.

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 一讀 /一读, 首讀 /首读
  • 一讀 /一读 (yīdú)parliamentary procedure
  • 首讀 /首读 (shǒudú)parliamentary procedure
French première lecture
  • première lectureparliamentary procedure
Malay bacaan pertama
  • bacaan pertamaparliamentary procedure
Māori pānuitanga tuatahi
  • pānuitanga tuatahiparliamentary procedure
Tamil முதல் வாசிப்பு
  • முதல் வாசிப்பு (mutal vācippu)parliamentary procedure
Cite this entry
APA

first reading. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/first%20reading

MLA

“first reading.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/first%20reading. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “first reading,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/first%20reading.

Source: first reading on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.