unconstitutional
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unconstitutional
First recorded in 1735–45; un- 1 + constitutional
Explanation
When someone protests an action on the part of the government by saying, "That's vile! That's wrong! That's downright unconstitutional!," they're saying that the action violates the tenets of the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. Constitution is our nation's founding document, laying out a structure for the executive, judicial, and legislative powers, and assigning to people specific rights, such privacy, free speech, and voting. Violations of the Constitution are the highest forms of illegality in our nation, though famously hard to nail down.
Vocabulary lists containing unconstitutional
Twelve Days in May
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Lincoln Inaugural Address (March 1861)
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Words with 15 or More Letters, List 1
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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.
For instance, Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s dissent spent 29 pages arguing that these categorical sports bans are likely unconstitutional.
From Slate ● Jul. 15, 2026
Besigye initially faced a court martial but the case was later moved to a civilian court after the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional to try civilians in military courts.
From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026
In 1832, President Andrew Jackson vetoed a reauthorization of the Second Bank’s charter, declaring it an unconstitutional monopoly favoring the few over the many.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
In 2015, O’Connor also attempted to strike down a portion of the 1968 Gun Control Act as unconstitutional, though his ruling was overturned.
From Salon ● Jul. 3, 2026
In 1934, the US Supreme Court ruled that segregation was unconstitutional in the landmark decision Brown v.
From "Root Magic" by Eden Royce
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.
