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
This move is more likely to pass muster with the constitutional court, which in January banned Die Heimat (the NPD’s successor) from receiving state funding and tax breaks. Joseph De Weck, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2024 Community organizations have been preparing residents for months with workshops about their constitutional rights to remain silent and the prohibition against unreasonable search and seizure and what to do if they are arrested. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 20 Mar. 2024 For the government and supporters of Beijing, the legislation is the keystone in fulfilling a constitutional duty, heralding a new era focused squarely on economic prosperity. Kanis Leung, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Mar. 2024 The scrutiny over the Center for Tech and Civic Life grants is fueling an April 2 referendum on a constitutional amendment that would bar state agencies and local governments from using private grant money to help administer elections. Alison Dirr, Journal Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2024 Alex Abdo, litigation director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, which filed a brief in support of neither party, urged the court to clarify the constitutional line between coercion and persuasion. Ann Marimow, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2024 Some lawmakers have worried that the bill could exceed Congress’s mandate by mentioning TikTok specifically, running afoul of a constitutional ban on targeting individuals in laws. Sapna Maheshwari, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2024 Johnson even invoked his authority as a constitutional expert during the competition to succeed McCarthy. David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2024 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
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 28 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

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