What does "constitution" mean?
The act, or process of setting something up, or establishing something; the composition or structure of such a thing; its makeup.
Constitution
/ˌkɒn.stɪˈtjuː.ʃ(ə)n/ name, noun
name, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act, or process of setting something up, or establishing something; the composition or structure of such a thing; its makeup.
- Grammar: constitution is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: composition, makeup, act, allocation.
- Useful contrasts: anarchy, disease, disorder.
- Usage evidence: The students were required to learn the Constitution by heart.
How to use "constitution"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "constitution" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "constitution" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "constitution" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "constitution" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "constitution" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "composition" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "constitution", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act, or process of setting something up, or establishing something; the composition or structure of such a thing; its makeup.
"the physical constitution of the sun"
- 2 the act of forming or establishing something wordnet
- 3 The formal or informal system of primary principles and laws that regulates a government or other institutions.
"1693, Edmund Bohun, A Geographical Dictionary They have in their present Constitution a Grand Council of the Nobility, a Senato, a College of Twenty six who give Audience to Ambassadors and report their Demands to the Senate, a Council of Ten; and a Triumvirate (monthly chosen by, and out of, the Ten) of three Inquisitors of State; whose Authority is so absolute, as to extend to the taking away of the Life of the Doge no less than the meanest Artisan, without acquainting the Senate, provided they all three agree in the Sentence."
- 4 the way in which someone or something is composed wordnet
- 5 A legal document describing such a formal system.
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 law determining the fundamental political principles of a government wordnet
- 7 A document issued by a religious authority serving to promulgate some particular church laws or doctrines.
- 8 A person's physical makeup or temperament, especially in respect of robustness.
"He has a strong constitution, so he should make a quick recovery from the illness."
- 9 The general health of a person. dated
"But when once his constitution began to decline, he broke very fast, and being attacked bya complication of diseases, he at length gave way to fate, May 10, 1733."
Proper Noun
- 1 The supreme law of some countries, such as Australia, Ireland, and the United States.
"The Constitution is anchored in English liberal thought and the Magna Carta."
Example
"The students were required to learn the Constitution by heart."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "constitution"?
Common synonyms include: composition, makeup, act, allocation, allotment, anatomy.
How do you use "constitution" in a sentence?
The students were required to learn the Constitution by heart.
How do you pronounce "constitution"?
Pronounced /ˌkɒn.stɪˈtjuː.ʃ(ə)n/.
Etymology
PIE word *ḱóm From Middle English constitucioun, constitucion (“edict, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, statute; body of laws or rules, or customs; body of fundamental principles; principle or rule (of science); creation”) from Old French constitucion (modern French constitution), a learned borrowing from Latin cōnstitūtiō, cōnstitūtiōnem (“character, constitution, disposition, nature; definition; point in dispute; order, regulation; arrangement, system”), from cōnstituō (“to establish, set up; to confirm; to decide, resolve”). Equivalent to constitute + -ion.