constitutional
Americanadjective
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of or relating to the constitution of a state, organization, etc.
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subject to the provisions of such a constitution.
a constitutional monarchy.
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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.
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belonging to or inherent in the character or makeup of a person's body or mind.
a constitutional weakness for sweets.
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pertaining to the constitution or composition of a thing; essential.
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beneficial to one's constitution; healthful.
constitutional exercise.
noun
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constitutionals
plural
adjective
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denoting, characteristic of, or relating to a constitution
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authorized by or subject to a constitution
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of or inherent in the physical make-up or basic nature of a person or thing
a constitutional weakness
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beneficial to one's general physical wellbeing
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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anticonstitutionaladjective
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hyperconstitutionaladjective
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nonconstitutionaladjective
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proconstitutionaladjective
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quasi-constitutionaladjective
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superconstitutionaladjective
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anticonstitutionallyadverb
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constitutionallyadverb
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hyperconstitutionallyadverb
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quasi-constitutionallyadverb
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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
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"Tinker v. Des Moines": Excerpts from Justice Fortas's Opinion
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Florida EOC Civics
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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:
He framed his confrontation with Tshisekedi as a fight against authoritarianism, invoking Section 64 of the constitution, which calls on citizens to resist anyone who seizes power or exercises it in violation of constitutional provisions.
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026
The constitutional court's official website was not accessible on Friday evening.
From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026
Still, some critics question whether giving religious groups special zoning treatment is constitutional; others warn that cash-strapped congregations could collaborate with developers for profit rather than mission.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
Madison’s constitutional design assumed that public officials would defend the powers entrusted to them.
From Salon ● Oct. 27, 2026
Chief Buthelezi agreed to provisionally register for the elections in exchange for a promise to subject our differences over constitutional issues to international mediation.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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 15, 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
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
