construction

American  

[kuhn-struhk-shuhn] / kənˈstrʌk ʃən /

noun

constructions plural

1. the act or art of constructing.

2. the way in which a thing is constructed.

   a building of solid construction.

3. something that is constructed; a structure.

4. the occupation or industry of building.

   He works in construction.

5. Grammar.

   1. the arrangement of two or more forms in a grammatical unit. Constructions involving bound forms are often called morphological, as the bound forms fif- and -teen. Those involving only free forms are often called syntactic, as the good man, in the house.

   2. a word or phrase consisting of two or more forms arranged in a particular way.

   3. a group of words or morphemes for which there is a rule in some part of the grammar.

6. explanation or interpretation, as of a law, a text, or an action.

   Synonyms:

   story, rendition, version

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construction British  

/ kənˈstrʌkʃən /

noun

1. the process or act of constructing or manner in which a thing is constructed

2. the thing constructed; a structure

3. 1. the business or work of building dwellings, offices, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      a construction site

4. an interpretation or explanation of a law, text, action, etc

   they put a sympathetic construction on her behaviour

5. grammar a group of words that together make up one of the constituents into which a sentence may be analysed; a phrase or clause

6. geometry a drawing of a line, angle, or figure satisfying certain conditions, used in solving a problem or proving a theorem

7. an abstract work of art in three dimensions or relief See also constructivism

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preconstruction
  noun
• constructional
  adjective
• constructionally
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• constructions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of construction

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin constrūctiōn-, stem of constrūctiō “placement together, building,” from constrūct(us) “put together” ( see construct) + -iō -ion

Explanation

The creation or building of something is construction. Depending on your budget, if you are building a new house, you will get the construction of a castle, a house, a cottage, or a shack. The word construction has its roots in the Latin word construere, which itself has roots in com-, meaning "together," and struere meaning "to pile up." In addition to the building of property, the noun construction also refers to the building trade itself. If you work for a company that builds things — from offices to houses and bridges to dams — you work in construction, whether you are a carpenter at the work site or the secretary who schedules the jobs.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

construction constructions

The flurry of movement and construction around the site initially gave her hope.

From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026

A growing number of national, state or local governments are pausing, banning or restricting new data centre construction on environmental grounds thanks to their vast water and energy needs.

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

There are bulletproof pop melodies, gentle riffs, solid construction, and engaging stories.

From Salon ● Jul. 29, 2026

“The people being removed are disproportionately working-age, employed and without criminal records — the demographic core of the workforce in construction, hospitality, agriculture, food processing, and care work,” the report read.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026

Interlocking loops of multicolored construction paper—six million of them for the six million Jewish lives snuffed out during the Holocaust.

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman

If Ms. Orton sang like her 19-year-old self, had the songs been tight constructions manicured by a hired-gun songwriter, had her insights felt unearned, such a declaration could have come across as trite.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

"We now see that end of these monumental constructions coincides with the disappearance of the population that built them," Seersholm said.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 22, 2026

Not surprisingly, the new necessities have made new constructions a harder sell.

From Barron's ● Dec. 3, 2025

Family is like a tapestry, sewn together in a constant story despite different constructions and experiences.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2025

His carvings and furniture and clever constructions were in high demand on the other side of the Road, as well.

From "The Girl Who Drank the Moon" by Kelly Barnhill

Related Words

• development
• manufacture
• plan
• planning
• structure
• system