the introduction of a bill in a legislative assembly
first reading in American English
noun
Parliamentary Procedure
the reading of a bill when it is first introduced in a legislative body
Word origin
[1695–1705]This word is first recorded in the period 1695–1705. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: mimosa, nonresistant, piston, vector, veneer
Examples of 'first reading' in a sentence
first reading
May set the deadline the day after securing a formal first reading for the coalition government's bill.
Computing (2010)
During that period, most submissions are given a first reading within two days.
The Times Literary Supplement (2016)
However, yesterday's development was only the first reading of the directive.