constituent

[ kuhn-stich-oo-uhnt ]

adjective

1. serving to compose or make up a thing; component:

   the constituent parts of a motor.

2. having power to frame or alter a political constitution or fundamental law, as distinguished from lawmaking power:

   a constituent assembly.

noun

1. an element, material, etc. that is part of something else; component.
2. a person who authorizes another to act on their behalf, such as a voter in a district represented by an elected official.
3. Grammar. an element considered as part of a construction. Compare immediate constituent, ultimate constituent.

constituent

/ kənˈstɪtjʊənt /

adjective

1. forming part of a whole; component
2. having the power to frame a constitution or to constitute a government (esp in the phrases constituent assembly, constituent power )
3. rare.
   electing or having the power to elect

noun

1. a component part; ingredient
2. a resident of a constituency, esp one entitled to vote
3. law a person who appoints another to act for him, as by power of attorney
4. linguistics a word, phrase, or clause forming a part of a larger construction Compare immediate constituent ultimate constituent

Derived Forms

• conˈstituently, adverb

Other Words From

• con·stitu·ent·ly adverb
• noncon·stitu·ent adjective noun
• precon·stitu·ent noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of constituent¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin constituent- (stem of constituēns, present participle of constituere “to set up, found, constitute),” equivalent to con- con- + -stitu- (combining form of statuere “to set up”) + -ent- -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of constituent¹

C17: from Latin constituēns setting up, from constituere to establish, constitute

Synonym Study

See element.

Example Sentences

“It was made in a lighthearted way in speaking to a constituent in trying to relate to them,” Raman said.

From Los Angeles Times

De León declined to say whether Perez, who handles constituent services in his office, made the recording of Jurado’s remarks, which first appeared Monday on the website of the Westside Current.

From Los Angeles Times

"If I've given a super PAC $10 million to elect you, and you get elected, you're going to take my phone call in a way that you're not for the average constituent or the average voter," he told Salon.

From Salon

The plight of Welsh pensioners was raised by Plaid Cymru's Caerfyrddin MP, Ann Davies, during Prime Minister's Questions when she highlighted the case of constituent, Janette Crawford, whom she said suffered with ME and chronic pain.

From BBC

Dr Simon Opher, the new MP for Stroud, was speaking to Cam based constituent Catherine Morgan, a contributor to the BBC's Your Voice Your Vote campaign.

From BBC