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• constitution
  constitution

  noun

  the system of fundamental principles according to which a nation, state, corporation, or the like, is governed.
• Constitution
  Constitution

  The fundamental law of the United States, drafted in Philadelphia in 1787 (see Constitutional Convention), ratified in 1788, and put into effect in 1789. It established a strong central government in place of the Articles of Confederation. (See Preamble to the Constitution.)

constitution

American  

[kon-sti-too-shuhn, -tyoo-] / ˌkɒn stɪˈtu ʃən, -ˈtju- /

noun

• constitutions
  plural

1. the system of fundamental principles according to which a nation, state, corporation, or the like, is governed.

2. the document embodying these principles.

3. (initial capital letter) Constitution of the United States.

4. the way in which a thing is composed or made up; makeup; composition.

   the chemical constitution of the cleanser.

5. the physical character of the body as to strength, health, etc..

   He has a strong constitution.

6. Medicine/Medical, Psychology. the aggregate of a person's physical and psychological characteristics.

7. the act or process of constituting; establishment.

8. the state of being constituted; formation.

9. any established arrangement or custom.

10. Archaic. character or condition of mind; disposition; temperament.

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constitution British  

/ ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuːʃən /

noun

1. the act of constituting or state of being constituted

2. the way in which a thing is composed; physical make-up; structure

3. the fundamental political principles on which a state is governed, esp when considered as embodying the rights of the subjects of that state

4. (often capital) (in certain countries, esp Australia and the US) a statute embodying such principles

5. a person's state of health

6. a person's disposition of mind; temperament

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Constitution ¹ Cultural  

1. The fundamental law of the United States, drafted in Philadelphia in 1787 (see Constitutional Convention), ratified in 1788, and put into effect in 1789. It established a strong central government in place of the Articles of Confederation. (See Preamble to the Constitution.)

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constitution ² Cultural  

1. A nation or state's fundamental set of laws. Most nations with constitutions have them in written form, such as the United States Constitution. The constitution of Britain, by contrast, is an informal set of traditions, based on several different laws.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• anticonstitution
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• constitutions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of constitution

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English constitucion “edict, ordinance,” from Anglo-French, from Latin constitūtiōn-, stem of constitūtiō “an appointing, establishing”; see constitute, -ion

Explanation

A constitution is a statement of the basic principles and laws of a nation, state, or group, such as the U.S. Constitution. Another very common meaning of constitution is the physical makeup of a person. The noun constitution is from Latin, from constitutus, "set up, established," plus the suffix -ion, meaning "act, state, or condition." So think of a constitution as how a body (yours, the government's) is set up. If you have a strong constitution, it means you don't get sick very often.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

constitution Constitution constitutions

In his speech, András Baka promised the broadest possible debate on the creation of a new constitution.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

And under the state constitution, only the governor has the power to issue pardons.

From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2026

What caught my eye as a scholar interested in popular constitutionalism was the way freed people made direct claims on the text of the state constitution.

From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026

In the absence of a formal constitution, Israel has built an informal system of checks and balances—the judiciary, the military, the intelligence services and the press.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

Elections to regional legislatures would take place at the same time as national elections, and the regional bodies could draw up their own constitutions consistent with the national constitution.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

The Constitution grants Congress authority over monetary policy—the power ‘to coin Money.’

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

That the Constitution that we have is clearly a document meant to instantiate self-government.

From Slate ● Aug. 10, 2026

“If you are born in America, you are American — period. The Constitution says it and the Supreme Court has affirmed it,” Schumer said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

Roberts, and ultimately the high court's majority, rejected that interpretation, saying: "Well, it's a new world. It's the same Constitution."

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

“That was before I realized the Constitution doesn’t protect me from getting fired. I read the whole thing twice.”

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

It also runs counter to a long history of immigration in Argentina, which has one of the world's most lenient constitutions in this regard, according to sociologist Ivan Schuliaquer.

From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026

In response to the decree, the Kurdish administration in Syria's north and north-east said it was "a first step" but called for "permanent constitutions that express the will of the people", rather than "temporary decrees".

From BBC ● Jan. 17, 2026

North Dakota and Nebraska actually have a version of this in their constitutions: Their state Supreme Courts can only strike down laws when a supermajority of justices finds them unconstitutional.

From Slate ● Dec. 29, 2025

For families that own businesses, constitutions can lay out what minimum requirements family members and their spouses must meet to be able to work at the business.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2025

From which tribe did her ancestors originate and what did she know of their constitutions?

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead

Related Words

• charter
• code
• custom
• legislation