Pronunciations (4)
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/ˌkɒn.stɪˈtjuː.ʃ(ə)n/
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
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/ˌkɑn.stɪˈtu.ʃ(ə)n/
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
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ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuːʃ(ə)n
Pronunciation notes
- GB
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ˌkɑnstɪˈtuʃ(ə)n
Pronunciation notes
- US
Noun
The act, or process of setting something up, or establishing something; the composition or structure of such a thing; its makeup.
- Synonyms
- Examples
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the physical constitution of the sun
The formal or informal system of primary principles and laws that regulates a government or other institutions.
- Examples
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More examples (1)
1693, Edmund Bohun, A Geographical Dictionary They have in their present Constitution a Grand Council of the Nobility, a Senato, a College of Twenty six who give Audience to Ambassadors and report their Demands to the Senate, a Council of Ten; and a Triumvirate (monthly chosen by, and out of, the Ten) of three Inquisitors of State; whose Authority is so absolute, as to extend to the taking away of the Life of the Doge no less than the meanest Artisan, without acquainting the Senate, provided they all three agree in the Sentence.
Our constitution had begun to exist in times when statesmen were not much accustomed to frame exact definitions.
More examples (1)
After all, that would be akin to a self-coup. Apart from the traditional vision of a coup requiring a military takeover of the government, self-coups occur when governments depart from typical norms of democracy by altering election laws, calling into question election results or seeking to suspend their constitutions in order to stay in power.
A legal document describing such a formal system.
A document issued by a religious authority serving to promulgate some particular church laws or doctrines.
A person's physical makeup or temperament, especially in respect of robustness.
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He has a strong constitution, so he should make a quick recovery from the illness.
Our constitutions have never been enfeebled by the vices or luxuries of the old world.
More examples (1)
He defended himself with [...] less passion than was expected from his constitution.
The general health of a person.
Usage- Dated
- Examples
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More examples (4)
But when once his constitution began to decline, he broke very fast, and being attacked bya complication of diseases, he at length gave way to fate, May 10, 1733.
Don Manuel de Casafonda the governor, whose countenance bespoke a constitution far gone in a decliner had thrown himself on a sopha in the last state of despair and given way to an effusion of tears:
The physician, to gratify the apothecary, thinks himself obliged to order ten times more physic than the patient really wants, by which means he ruins his constitution, and too often his life; otherwise how is it possible an apothecarty's bill in a fever should amount to forty, or fifty, or more pounds?
In early life his health was infirm, and his education much interrupted in consequence; but by diligent study, as his constitution improved, he made up his lost ground, and became one of the most accomplished classical and general scholars of his time.
Noun
law determining the fundamental political principles of a government
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
the act of forming or establishing something
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the constitution of a PTA group last year
it was the establishment of his reputation
More examples (1)
he still remembers the organization of the club
the way in which someone or something is composed
- Broader terms