first reading

American  

noun

Parliamentary Procedure.

1. the reading of a bill when it is first introduced in a legislative body.

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first reading British  

noun

1. the introduction of a bill in a legislative assembly

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Etymology

Origin of first reading

First recorded in 1695–1705

Example Sentences

A closely watched home price index will release its first reading for 2026 on Tuesday.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

The bill passed its first reading unanimously on 5 February but lawmakers failed to approve it as scheduled last week as they could not agree on how it should be applied.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

Especially if decades, not just years, have passed between one’s first reading and the next; when the reader can’t help but wonder: Is this even the same book?

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 5, 2026

I devoured it on first reading but I just can’t surrender it to the shelf yet.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

But on this first reading, she calls forth distress, sadness, barely controlled rage.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove