constitutive
Americanadjective
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constituent; making a thing what it is; essential.
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having power to establish or enact.
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Physics, Chemistry. pertaining to a molecular property determined primarily by the arrangement of atoms in the molecule rather than by their nature or number.
adjective
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having power to enact, appoint, or establish
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chem (of a physical property) determined by the arrangement of atoms in a molecule rather than by their nature
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biochem (of an enzyme) formed continuously, irrespective of the cell's needs
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another word for constituent
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of constitutive
First recorded in 1585–95; constitute + -ive
Explanation
The word constitutive describes an essential part of a whole, especially physical makeup. Without its constitutive engine, steering wheel, and tires, you don’t really have a car; it's just a box with seats. Just like a government may be based on its constitution, a whole is based on its constitutive parts. Something that is constitutive may also be necessary for a whole to work correctly. Participate in a 24-hour dance-a-thon, and you’ll likely find your legs are constitutive to your success. Constitutive is one of those words that has both general and scientific uses; you might see other senses of the word in both chemistry and biology books.
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.
"We shall always support anything that all three constitutive peoples agree upon," Vucic said, referring to Bosnia's Orthodox Serbs, Catholic Croats and Muslim Bosniaks.
From Reuters ● Apr. 15, 2023
In their view, logic is a constitutive norm of reasoning—that is, logic constitutes what reasoning is.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 15, 2022
Board era, they ask, why and how do race and racism continue to play a constitutive role in America?
From Washington Post ● Jul. 2, 2021
It is constitutive of being human, just as are creativity, courage, ambition, attachment and love.
From The Guardian ● May 7, 2020
Why they are thus constitutive, science is unable to say.
From Spencer's Philosophy of Science The Herbert Spencer Lecture Delivered at the Museum 7 November, 1913 by C. Lloyd (Conwy Lloyd) Morgan
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