constitution

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   The set of basic rules that say how a country or organization is run and what powers it has.

   Grammar: Capitalized when naming a specific country's document: the U.S. Constitution; a club's constitution.

   Patterns

   • the constitution of something
   • under the constitution

   The constitution limits how long a president can serve.

   Our chess club's constitution says elections happen every year.

   Judges decided the law went against the constitution.

2. 2nounsingularold-fashioned

   A person's natural physical strength and general health.

   Grammar: Usually singular and often preceded by an adjective: a strong constitution.

   Patterns

   • have a strong constitution
   • a weak constitution

   Grandpa has a strong constitution and rarely catches colds.

   She has the constitution of an ox.

   A delicate constitution kept him away from cold climates.

3. 3noununcountableformal

   The way something is made up from its parts.

   Grammar: Formal; usually followed by of: the constitution of the committee.

   Patterns

   • the constitution of something

   The chemical constitution of the water was tested.

   They studied the constitution of the jury.

   The constitution of the soil affects what grows.

Word forms

Common combinations

amend the constitution

Voters can amend the constitution by referendum.

written constitution

Britain does not have a single written constitution.

strong constitution

You need a strong constitution to work night shifts.

draft a constitution

A committee was asked to draft a constitution.

violate the constitution

The ruling said the law violated the constitution.

Synonyms and how they differ

charter

A charter often grants rights or founds an organization, while a constitution sets out how it works.

health

Health is a current condition, but constitution is the lasting natural strength a person has.

makeup

Makeup is a casual word for composition, while constitution sounds formal or scientific.

stamina

Stamina means ability to keep going for a long time, but constitution is overall physical resilience.

Opposites

Word family

constitutional adjective

relating to a constitution, or to a person's basic nature

constitutionally adverb

in a way related to a constitution or basic nature

constitute verb

to make up or form something

unconstitutional adjective

not allowed by a constitution

Commonly confused: constitution or institution?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “constitution”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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