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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of constitutional¹

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

Example Sentences

It is Ms. Ripa who suffers more than her husband, perhaps because she’s not making the decisions and/or because she has no constitutional immunity to the nervous agitation of high-maintenance fandom.

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She repeated the administration’s position that the president acted within his constitutional authority as commander-in-chief to conduct the strikes.

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Americans have a constitutional right to say what we like about how the country is being run—and the people who run it.

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In the late 1860s, America thus adopted a constitutional amendment to settle the matter conclusively.

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Abortion became a constitutional “right,” its opponents benighted sectarians.

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Related Words

• democratic 
• lawful 
• legal 
• statutory