constituent

1 of 2

noun

con·​stit·​u·​ent kən-ˈstich-wənt How to pronounce constituent (audio)
-ˈsti-chə-,
-ˈsti-chü-ənt
1
: a member of a constituency
pledged to help her elderly constituents
2
: an essential part : component, element
The organic constituents of plants, animals, and microorganisms …Harry S. Mosher et al.
3
: one who authorizes another to act as agent : principal
4
: a structural unit of a definable syntactic, semantic, or phonological category that consists of one or more linguistic elements (such as words, morphemes, or features) and that can occur as a component of a larger construction

constituent

2 of 2

adjective

1
: serving to form, compose, or make up a unit or whole : component
constituent parts
2
: having the power to create a government or frame or amend a constitution
a constituent assembly
constituently adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for constituent

element, component, constituent, ingredient mean one of the parts of a compound or complex whole.

element applies to any such part and often connotes irreducible simplicity.

the basic elements of geometry

component and constituent may designate any of the substances (whether elements or compounds) or the qualities that enter into the makeup of a complex product; component stresses its separate entity or distinguishable character.

the components of a stereo system

constituent stresses its essential and formative character.

the constituents of a chemical compound

ingredient applies to any of the substances which when combined form a particular mixture.

the ingredients of a cocktail

Example Sentences

Noun She's pledged to help her elderly constituents. Many senators have received calls from constituents who want them to vote in favor of the law. the chemical constituents of the liquid Adjective The company can be separated into several constituent parts.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The Assembly statement said Zaletel’s constituents can contact the other Midtown Assembly member, Felix Rivera, during her leave. Emily Goodykoontz, Anchorage Daily News, 17 May 2023 Soil is made up of its mineral constituents, organic matter, air, water and living organisms—from earthworms and larvae to nematodes and microscopic bacteria and fungi. Elizabeth Waddington, Treehugger, 16 May 2023 Because of its chemical constituents, peppermint has a drying effect. Tatjana Freund, harpersbazaar.com, 10 May 2023 So has his community involvement, not just in money but in his time coaching and living among his neighbors and constituents. Andrew Donaldson, Washington Examiner, 5 May 2023 Just last weekend, constituents hotly complained about getting new appraisals in the mail, the three recalled. Dallas News, 29 Apr. 2023 While supervised consumption advocates argue that the service would prevent overdoses, reduce disease transmission, and potentially help people access addiction treatment, local lawmakers say the bill reflects their constituents’ opposition to sanctioned drug use sites. Lev Facher, STAT, 28 Apr. 2023 In between praises of Skokie Village staff and stories of interacting with constituents, Van Dusen touched on coming developments at the Illinois Science and Technology Park, renovations at Westfield Old Orchard Shopping Center and recent changes to the village’s garbage and recycling services. Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2023 Her district includes all of Cambodia Town, where some of her constituents feel betrayed by her determination to use the Sankranta name. Jeong Park, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2023
Adjective
Wind and solar installation would power a process called electrolysis, which uses an electrical current to separate water into its constituent elements of oxygen and hydrogen, which would be stored in salt caverns that have been hollowed out on nearby state trust lands. Brian Maffly, The Salt Lake Tribune, 5 Oct. 2021 Johnson and Harmon have a history: Johnson ran constituent services for him from 2003 to 2004. A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2023 Though Glass and the Venter institute have made international headlines for their feats of synthetic biology, creating living cells from their constituent chemical compounds, the idea of building an insulin-producing bacteria, Hayek said, simply did not resonate with any of the big funding sources. Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2022 Ukrainian filmmakers have been on the forefront of this struggle for cultural recognition, first during Soviet times when Ukraine was a constituent republic and more recently since Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the emergence of the Donbas separatist movement in 2014. Joshua First, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2022 Friedman was wonder-struck by the vision of an economy that would regulate itself with no coordination from above, its constituent parts harmonizing with no external conductor. Kim Phillips-fein, The New Republic, 27 Feb. 2023 Maybe there is more to food than its constituent parts. WIRED, 22 Feb. 2023 Myers pushed Santos' hand away and proceeded to discuss constituent correspondence. Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2023 Santos recently opened a constituent office in the Douglaston neighborhood of New York City. Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 7 Feb. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'constituent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French constituant, from Middle French, from present participle of constituer to constitute, from Latin constituere — see constitute

Adjective

Latin constituent-, constituens, present participle of constituere — see constituent entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Adjective

1660, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of constituent was in 1622

Dictionary Entries Near constituent

Cite this Entry

“Constituent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constituent. Accessed 4 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

constituent

1 of 2 noun
con·​stit·​u·​ent kən-ˈstich-(ə-)wənt How to pronounce constituent (audio)
1
: one of the parts of which a thing is made up : element, ingredient
2
: any of the voters who elect a person to represent them

constituent

2 of 2 adjective
1
: forming a part of a whole : component
2
: having the power to create a government or make or change a constitution
a constituent assembly

Legal Definition

constituent

1 of 2 noun
con·​stit·​u·​ent kən-ˈsti-chə-wənt How to pronounce constituent (audio)
1
: one who authorizes another to act as agent : principal
2
: a member of a constituency

constituent

2 of 2 adjective
: having the power to create a government or to frame or amend a constitution
a constituent assembly

More from Merriam-Webster on constituent

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