constitutional

1 of 2

adjective

con·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al ˌkän(t)-stə-ˈtü-shnəl How to pronounce constitutional (audio)
-shə-nᵊl,
-ˈtyü-
1
: relating to, inherent in, or affecting the constitution of body or mind
2
: of, relating to, or entering into the fundamental makeup of something : essential
3
: being in accordance with or authorized by the constitution of a state or society
a constitutional government
4
: regulated by or ruling according to a constitution
a constitutional monarchy
5
: of or relating to a constitution
a constitutional crisis
6
: loyal to or supporting an established constitution or form of government

constitutional

2 of 2

noun

: a walk taken for one's health

Examples of constitutional in a Sentence

Adjective the constitutional guarantee of free speech a constitutional right to vote Constitutional symptoms of the disease include headache and fever. He has a constitutional dislike of controversy. Noun She's gone out for her morning constitutional. went for my evening constitutional in the park
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Ireland went to the polls on Friday in votes deliberately timed to coincide with International Women’s Day to replace two constitutional references. Lauren Kent, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024 Defense attorneys Theresa Van Vliet and Joyce Delgado countered that, despite constitutional limits on questioning a jury about deliberations, there was no reason why the two jurors with doubts about their verdicts could not be polled again by the judge. Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 While royal family members have filled in for the King at various events since his cancer diagnosis was announced on Feb. 5, the meeting was part of the King's constitutional duty as head of state, according to the BBC. Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 All the justices agreed that individual states may not bar candidates for the presidency under a constitutional provision, Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, that prohibits insurrectionists from holding office. Adam Liptak, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2024 If signed, the measure is likely to face constitutional challenges, which have halted similar social media restrictions in Arkansas and Ohio, among other states. Cristiano Lima-Strong, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 All indications are that the Supreme Court is performing its crucial constitutional role conscientiously. The Editors, National Review, 1 Mar. 2024 But the plaintiffs in Braidwood v. Becerra argue the group has no constitutional authority to make those calls, and a lower court sided with them. Rachel Cohrs Reprints, STAT, 29 Feb. 2024 The Owasso school district characterized the walkout as peaceful and recognized students’ constitutional right to protest. Jackie Valley, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Feb. 2024
Noun
The working group stresses that federal courts have time and again ruled the 702 program constitutional—when its procedures are not skirted by negligent employees and willful violators for nefarious or self-serving means. WIRED, 16 Nov. 2023 And at that point, there was a monarchy, the dynasty at the time, and the constitutionals were looking to reform it and limit the monarch's power. Foreign Affairs, 24 May 2016 Balmy breezes and clear blue skies are enveloping the Pharmalot campus, where the official mascot is eagerly awaiting his first constitutional of the day and the short person is sleeping in. Ed Silverman, STAT, 4 Jan. 2023 Supreme Court justices take two oaths, one judicial, and the other constitutional. Joanne M. Pierce, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2020 Now more are on the streets, taking morning constitutionals, pushing strollers or riding bicycles wearing yellow kitchen gloves. Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 1 May 2020 If your mom loves to listen to music during her daily constitutionals, but is running out of her cache of CDs, a Spotify subscription will be a revelation. Sara Hendricks, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2020 But the Rabbit kept going, disappearing into the mist long before Herr Doktor finished his constitutionals. Marc Peruzzi, Outside Online, 15 May 2018 Among the dissenting Islamist movements is the Saadet Party, a movement made up of ultraconservatives that in some ways is the intellectual predecessor to the AKP, but whose leadership actively campaigned against the April constitutional changes. Umar Farooq, latimes.com, 10 May 2017

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

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1682, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1829, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of constitutional was in 1682

Dictionary Entries Near constitutional

Cite this Entry

“Constitutional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constitutional. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

constitutional

1 of 2 adjective
con·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al ˈkän(t)-stə-ˈt(y)ü-shnəl How to pronounce constitutional (audio)
-shən-ᵊl
1
: of or relating to a person's physical or mental makeup
2
: of, relating to, or in agreement with a constitution
a constitutional amendment
constitutional rights
constitutionally
-shnə-lē
-shən-ᵊl-ē
adverb

constitutional

2 of 2 noun
: exercise (as a walk) taken for one's health

Medical Definition

constitutional

noun
con·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al -shnəl, -shən-ᵊl How to pronounce constitutional (audio)
: a walk taken for one's health

Legal Definition

constitutional

adjective
con·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al
1
: consistent with or authorized by the constitution of a state or society
constitutional rights
2
: regulated by, dependent on, or ruling according to a constitution
a constitutional monarchy
3
: of, relating to, or dealing with a constitution or its interpretation, formulation, or amendment
a constitutional convention
constitutional lawyers
constitutionally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on constitutional

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!