constituent

[ kuhn-stich-oo-uhnt ]

See synonyms for: constituent constituents on Thesaurus.com

adjective

serving to compose or make up a thing; component: the constituent parts of a motor.
having power to frame or alter a political constitution or fundamental law, as distinguished from lawmaking power: a constituent assembly.

noun

an element, material, etc. that is part of something else; component.
a person who authorizes another to act on their behalf, such as a voter in a district represented by an elected official.

Grammar. an element considered as part of a construction.: Compare immediate constituent, ultimate constituent.

Origin of constituent

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin constituent- (stem of constituēns, present participle of constituere “to set up, found, constitute),” equivalent to con- con- + -stitu- (combining form of statuere “to set up”) + -ent- -ent

synonym study For constituent

3. See element.

Other words from constituent

con·stit·u·ent·ly, adverb
non·con·stit·u·ent, adjective, noun
pre·con·stit·u·ent, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use constituent in a sentence

There is also work to do here in my district helping ensure that our constituents have a roof over their heads, food on the their tables and money to pay their bills.
Sacramento Report: Bipartisan Support for a Special Session | Sara Libby | September 11, 2020 | Voice of San Diego
First, ensembles have proved to be more accurate on average than their constituent models alone.
The Forecast: The Methodology Behind Our 2020 Election Model | Daniel Malloy | September 10, 2020 | Ozy
The 51-year-old index added e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, electronics and smartphone maker Xiaomi Corporation, and biotechnology firm Wuxi Biologics as constituents.
Alibaba and Xiaomi join Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index to reflect dominance of Chinese tech | Naomi Xu Elegant | September 7, 2020 | Fortune
Congressional Democrats begged the President to do something about the meat crisis, declaring it the single biggest issue of concern to their constituents.
Why meat could be top of mind for voters in the upcoming election | jakemeth | September 5, 2020 | Fortune
Downtown Alderman Brendan Reilly blasted Foxx in an email newsletter to constituents, and other Democrats signaled they would not back her reelection.
As Trump Calls for Law and Order, Can Chicago’s Top Prosecutor Beat the Charge That She’s Soft on Crime? | by Mick Dumke | September 4, 2020 | ProPublica

Once discovered, this maneuver did not endear the councilors to their constituents.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers | Michael Schulson | July 27, 2016 | THE DAILY BEAST
Bush busy engaging constituents on both sides of the same-sex marriage debate ahead of the 2004 presidential election.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails | Jackie Kucinich | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
Who among Scalise's constituents could possibly care if he supported naming a post office for a black judge who died in 1988?
The Price of Steve Scalise’s Silence | Jason Berry | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
You were there at my invitation to discuss issues with your constituents.
GOP Boss Gets Help From ‘White Hate’ Pal | Tim Mak | December 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
It would seem that in splurging on wine our political class is way out ahead of many of their constituents.
Beer Countries vs. Wine Countries | Clive Irving | December 7, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
These actions, operating through a long series of years, are the source of the inorganic constituents of all soils.
Elements of Agricultural Chemistry | Thomas Anderson
The state of combination of the soil constituents unquestionably exercise a most important influence on its fertility.
Elements of Agricultural Chemistry | Thomas Anderson
Each of these experiments was performed on several different soils, and on their mechanical constituents.
Elements of Agricultural Chemistry | Thomas Anderson
The substance so used is called a special manure; that containing all the constituents of the crop is a general manure.
Elements of Agricultural Chemistry | Thomas Anderson
What is true of the nitrogenous matters applies with still greater force to the mineral constituents of the manure.
Elements of Agricultural Chemistry | Thomas Anderson

British Dictionary definitions for constituent

constituent

/ (kənˈstɪtjʊənt) /

adjective(prenominal)

forming part of a whole; component
having the power to frame a constitution or to constitute a government (esp in the phrases constituent assembly, constituent power)

rare electing or having the power to elect

noun

a component part; ingredient
a resident of a constituency, esp one entitled to vote

mainly law a person who appoints another to act for him, as by power of attorney
linguistics a word, phrase, or clause forming a part of a larger construction: Compare immediate constituent, ultimate constituent

Origin of constituent

C17: from Latin constituēns setting up, from constituere to establish, constitute

Derived forms of constituent

constituently, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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