constitutional
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to the constitution of a state, organization, etc.
-
subject to the provisions of such a constitution.
a constitutional monarchy.
-
provided by, in accordance with, or not prohibited by, such a constitution.
the constitutional powers of the president; a law held to be constitutional by the Supreme Court.
-
belonging to or inherent in the character or makeup of a person's body or mind.
a constitutional weakness for sweets.
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pertaining to the constitution or composition of a thing; essential.
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beneficial to one's constitution; healthful.
constitutional exercise.
noun
adjective
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denoting, characteristic of, or relating to a constitution
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authorized by or subject to a constitution
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of or inherent in the physical make-up or basic nature of a person or thing
a constitutional weakness
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beneficial to one's general physical wellbeing
noun
Other Word Forms
- anticonstitutional adjective
- anticonstitutionally adverb
- constitutionally adverb
- hyperconstitutional adjective
- hyperconstitutionally adverb
- nonconstitutional adjective
- proconstitutional adjective
- quasi-constitutional adjective
- quasi-constitutionally adverb
- superconstitutional adjective
- superconstitutionally adverb
Etymology
Origin of constitutional
First recorded in 1675–85; constitution + -al 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division is tasked with upholding the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans, “particularly some of the most vulnerable members of our society.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026
By constitutional design, Congress may regulate only the “time, place, and manner” of federal elections – in other words, the procedural elements of elections for federal offices.
From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026
The Supreme Court has increasingly relied on history and tradition as the key to constitutional meaning.
From Slate • Apr. 2, 2026
The difference between a sweeping ruling on constitutional grounds versus a more tailored opinion on statutory grounds is a critical one, legal experts said.
From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026
The American Revolution thus entered a second phase and the constitutional settlement of 1787–1788 became a second “founding moment,” alongside the original occasion of 1776.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
