constitutional

[kon-sti-too-shuh-nl, -tyoo-]

adjective

1. of or relating to the constitution of a state, organization, etc.

2. subject to the provisions of such a constitution.

   a constitutional monarchy.

3. 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.

4. belonging to or inherent in the character or makeup of a person's body or mind.

   a constitutional weakness for sweets.

5. pertaining to the constitution or composition of a thing; essential.

6. beneficial to one's constitution; healthful.

   constitutional exercise.

noun

1. a walk or other mild exercise taken for the benefit of one's health.

constitutional

/ ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuːʃənəl /

adjective

1. denoting, characteristic of, or relating to a constitution

2. authorized by or subject to a constitution

3. of or inherent in the physical make-up or basic nature of a person or thing

   a constitutional weakness

4. beneficial to one's general physical wellbeing

noun

1. a regular walk taken for the benefit of one's health

Other Word Forms

• anticonstitutional adjective
• anticonstitutionally adverb
• hyperconstitutional adjective
• hyperconstitutionally adverb
• nonconstitutional adjective
• proconstitutional adjective
• quasi-constitutional adjective
• quasi-constitutionally adverb
• superconstitutional adjective
• superconstitutionally adverb
• constitutionally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of constitutional¹

First recorded in 1675–85; constitution + -al ¹

Example Sentences

I—I wonder if you ever thought that your legacy as a constitutional advocate would be the man who revived the nondelegation argument.

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Levine says it’s a person’s constitutional right under the 4th Amendment to ask a masked, federal agent to identify themselves.

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It isn’t the mere fact of the tariffs that upsets the constitutional order, but their magnitude and breadth.

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Gettleman said he crafted his order to be as “workable as possible given my finding that the conditions there don’t pass constitutional muster.”

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We desperately need checks on presidential war-making—but we need constitutional ones.

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Related Words

• democratic 
• lawful 
• legal 
• statutory