constitutional monarchy

American  

[kon-sti-too-shuh-nl mon-er-kee, -tyoo-] / ˈkɒn stɪˌtu ʃə nl ˈmɒn ər ki, -ˌtyu- /

noun

1. limited monarchy.

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constitutional monarchy British  

noun

1. Also called: limited monarchy.  a monarchy governed according to a constitution that limits and defines the powers of the sovereign

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constitutional monarchy Cultural  

1. A form of national government in which the power of the monarch (the king or queen) is restrained by a parliament, by law, or by custom. Several nations, especially in modern times, have passed from absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy, including Belgium, Britain, Denmark, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Sweden.

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Other Word Forms

• constitutional monarch
  noun

Etymology

Origin of constitutional monarchy

First recorded in 1795–1805

Compare meaning

How does constitutional-monarchy compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• absolute monarchy vs. constitutional monarchy

Example Sentences

Belgium King Albert II Constitutional monarchy Belgium is a Federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy.

From BBC • May 18, 2012

Netherlands Queen Beatrix Constitutional monarchy On 30 April 1980, Beatrix became Queen of the Netherlands when her mother abdicated.

From BBC • May 18, 2012

Norway King Harald V Constitutional monarchy King Harald succeeded to the throne of Norway upon the death of his father Olaf V on 17 January 1991.

From BBC • May 18, 2012

Bahrain King Hamad ibn Isa Constitutional monarchy King Hamad has been in power since 1999.

From BBC • May 18, 2012

In 1791 the experiment of Constitutional monarchy in France was brought to an abrupt end by the action of the king and queen, working in concert with their aristocratic and monarchist friends abroad.

From A Short History of the World by Wells, H. G. (Herbert George)