unconstitutional

adjective un·con·sti·tu·tion·al \ ˌən-ˌkän(t)-stə-ˈtü-shnəl , -ˈtyü- , -shə-nᵊl \

Updated on: 12 May 2018

Definition of unconstitutional

: not according or consistent with the constitution of a body politic (such as a nation)

an unconstitutional infringement on rights

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unconstitutionality

play \ˌən-ˌkän(t)-stə-ˌtü-shə-ˈna-lə-tē, -ˌtyü-\ noun

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unconstitutionally

adverb

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Examples of unconstitutional in a Sentence

an unconstitutional infringement of rights
The law may be unconstitutional.

Recent Examples of unconstitutional from the Web

In 2014, a Justice Department investigation found that police officers in Newark had engaged in a pattern of unconstitutional stops, searches, arrests and the use of excessive force.

— jonathan lai, Philly.com, "Livestreaming police surveillance video sparks privacy, racial profiling concerns," 9 May 2018
Pashinyan has been at the forefront of a growing protest movement driven by an upsurge of anger at former prime minister Serzh Sargsyan, whose appointment was seen as an unconstitutional power grab.

— judith vonberg, CNN, "Armenian opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan elected prime minister," 8 May 2018
According to the Tennessean, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati will hear oral arguments on June 14 from lawyers for Brown challenging her sentence as unconstitutional.

— paula rogo, Essence.com, "Cyntoia Brown Granted Clemency Hearing," 5 May 2018
Raising awareness Fabien Lehagre, president of the AAA and an accidental American himself, is working with a French lawyer to show that the decree used to enforce FATCA is unconstitutional under French law.

— colette davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, "For 'accidental Americans,' the hidden costs prove taxing," 4 May 2018
The problem with that, replied Grace, is that removing the items the state considers unconstitutional — items limiting the Legislature's discretion to allocate fish habitat — would destroy the spirit of the measure.

— alex demarban, Anchorage Daily News, "Alaska Supreme Court weighs possibility of altering Yes for Salmon initiative before vote," 27 Apr. 2018
When that was found patently unconstitutional the administration chopped it back.

— elizabeth drew, The New Republic, "Follies," 27 Apr. 2018
The repeal of the unconstitutional individual mandate and the passage of the tax cuts and jobs act.

— cynthia sewell, idahostatesman, "14 Idaho candidates on Trump, how they voted & his job performance today | Idaho Statesman," 24 Apr. 2018
In June, the Michigan Supreme Court will hear a case that challenges state firearm rules for foster and adoptive parents as unconstitutional.

— mary jo pitzl, The Republic | azcentral.com, "Should the Second Amendment trump foster-home safety rules?," 22 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unconstitutional.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.