constitutionalize

verb

con·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al·​ize ˌkän(t)-stə-ˈtü-shnə-ˌlīz 

-shə-nə-ˌlīz,

-ˈtyü-

constitutionalized; constitutionalizing

transitive verb

: to provide with a constitution : organize along constitutional principles

constitutionalization

ˌkän(t)-stə-ˌtü-shnə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

-shə-nə-lə-

-tyü-

noun

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Eleanor Roosevelt became First Lady, Ginsburg bore witness to, argued for, and helped to constitutionalize the most hard-fought and least-appreciated revolution in modern American history: the emancipation of women. —Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2020

The initial draft included a proposal to also constitutionalize the right to contraception. —Constant Méheut, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Nov. 2022

All of these have been one-offs, rather than part of efforts to constitutionalize political revolutions. —Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2022

Another problem for the North Carolina lawmakers—and for the Supreme Court justices who are ready to constitutionalize the ISL theory—is how North Carolina’s election laws are currently written. —Matt Ford, The New Republic, 4 Aug. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1831, in the meaning defined above