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.
-
pertaining to the constitution or composition of a thing; essential.
-
beneficial to one's constitution; healthful.
constitutional exercise.
noun
adjective
-
denoting, characteristic of, or relating to a constitution
-
authorized by or subject to a constitution
-
of or inherent in the physical make-up or basic nature of a person or thing
a constitutional weakness
-
beneficial to one's general physical wellbeing
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
anticonstitutionaladjective
-
hyperconstitutionaladjective
-
nonconstitutionaladjective
-
proconstitutionaladjective
-
quasi-constitutionaladjective
-
superconstitutionaladjective
-
anticonstitutionallyadverb
-
constitutionallyadverb
-
hyperconstitutionallyadverb
-
quasi-constitutionallyadverb
-
superconstitutionallyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of constitutional
First recorded in 1675–85; constitution + -al 1
Explanation
Constitutional means having to do with the document that is the foundation of a government — in the US, a constitutional right is one provided to you by the US Constitution. If you break down constitutional, you’ll find the root word constitute, meaning "to make up or form." Constitution can refer to the document that forms (or organizes) the government. It can also refer to the structure of a thing, such as a species, or a person. If you go for a "constitutional walk" — in that sense, the word means having to do with your constitution or your health.
Vocabulary lists containing constitutional
Civics I
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Tinker v. Des Moines": Excerpts from Justice Fortas's Opinion
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Florida EOC Civics
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
President José Antonio Kast said the government had decided to activate the constitutional state of catastrophe after evaluating the emergency.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
Ortega, who made his wife Rosario Murillo co-president through a constitutional reform in 2025, appears to be in ill health, and has disappeared from view for months at a time.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
Rights groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have urged Jakarta to enforce its constitutional ban on slavery as well as anti-discrimination conventions it has signed.
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
It is, in fact, your democratic, even civic duty to find a way into the constitutional and statutory and structural conversation about what the Constitution means.
From Slate ● Jul. 20, 2026
When asked by friends about his isolation from the presidential councils, Adams halfheartedly endorsed the same constitutional explanation.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
White would come and walk alongside Gita on many of those constitutionals.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 17, 2022
He talks us through his constitutionals and reveals what he found in pictures.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2021
Thinking of the geologist Brit Fredheim, and her evening constitutionals around the rig, I set off to walk Winner’s circumference.
From The Guardian ● May 2, 2017
Harry’s wee-hours constitutionals, particularly those undertaken in the drinking quarter where State and Rush Streets converge, have become the occasion for impromptu civic celebrations.”
From New York Times ● May 19, 2010
He often took constitutionals with his dog, Spiro, an old gray-and- white shepherd mix that limped devotedly behind him on stiff arthritic hips.
From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee
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.
