unconstitutional

adjective

un·​con·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al ˌən-ˌkän(t)-stə-ˈtü-sh(ə-)nəl 

-ˈtyü-

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

an unconstitutional infringement on rights

unconstitutionality

ˌən-ˌkän(t)-stə-ˌtü-shə-ˈna-lə-tē 

-ˌtyü-

noun

unconstitutionally adverb

Examples of unconstitutional in a Sentence

an unconstitutional infringement of rights

The law may be unconstitutional.

Recent Examples on the Web

The lawsuit alleges the sanctuary city ordinance, which prohibits federal resources from being used for federal immigration enforcement, is unconstitutional, as the administration has sued other cities over similar policies. —Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

In the latest case, which involved GOP Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, the Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that a cap on the amount of post-election contributions that can be used to repay a candidate who loaned money to their own campaign was unconstitutional. —June 30, CBS News, 30 June 2025

This is so, Sotomayor said, because the administration may be able to enforce a policy even when it has been challenged and found to be unconstitutional by a lower court. —Arkansas Online, 28 June 2025

Advertisement During oral arguments, Sauer argued on behalf of the Trump Administration that nationwide injunctions are unconstitutional and that the lower counts should have only been able to block Trump’s order in relation to those who had filed lawsuits. —Nik Popli, Time, 27 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1734, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unconstitutional

• noninstitutional
• attributional
• constitutional
• convolutional
• distributional
• institutional
• involutional
• substitutional
• interinstitutional

Kids Definition

unconstitutional

adjective

un·​con·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al ˌən-ˌkän(t)-stə-ˈt(y)üsh-nəl 

-ən-ᵊl

: not according to or agreeing with the constitution of a state or society

unconstitutionality

-ˌt(y)ü-shə-ˈnal-ət-ē 

noun

unconstitutionally

-ˈt(y)üsh-nə-lē

-ən-ᵊl-ē

adverb

Legal Definition

unconstitutional

adjective

un·​con·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al ˌən-ˌkän-stə-ˈtü-shə-nəl, -ˈtyü- 

: contrary to or failing to comply with a constitution

especially : violative of a person's rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution

an unconstitutional search and seizure

unconstitutionality

-ˌtü-shə-ˈna-lə-tē, -ˌtyü- 

noun

unconstitutionally adverb