constitutional

[ kon-sti-too-shuh-nl, -tyoo- ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the constitution of a state, organization, etc.
2. subject to the provisions of such a constitution:

   a constitutional monarchy.

3. provided by, in accordance with, or not prohibited by, such a constitution:

   the constitutional powers of the president; a law held to be constitutional by the Supreme Court.

4. belonging to or inherent in the character or makeup of a person's body or mind:

   a constitutional weakness for sweets.

5. pertaining to the constitution or composition of a thing; essential.
6. beneficial to one's constitution; healthful:

   constitutional exercise.

noun

1. a walk or other mild exercise taken for the benefit of one's health.

constitutional

/ ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuːʃənəl /

adjective

1. denoting, characteristic of, or relating to a constitution
2. authorized by or subject to a constitution
3. of or inherent in the physical make-up or basic nature of a person or thing

   a constitutional weakness

4. beneficial to one's general physical wellbeing

noun

1. a regular walk taken for the benefit of one's health

Derived Forms

• ˌconstiˈtutionally, adverb

Other Words From

• anti·consti·tution·al adjective
• anti·consti·tution·al·ly adverb
• hyper·consti·tution·al adjective
• hyper·consti·tution·al·ly adverb
• noncon·sti·tution·al adjective
• procon·sti·tution·al adjective
• quasi-consti·tution·al adjective
• quasi-consti·tution·al·ly adverb
• super·consti·tution·al adjective
• super·consti·tution·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of constitutional¹

First recorded in 1675–85; constitution + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Set aside the preposterous contentions that “government agencies are no different” from corporations, or that mass-eliminating people by SSN would not cripple necessary everyday government functions like air traffic control and emergency relief and weather monitoring, even after screening them for constitutional knowledge or something.

From Slate

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she was “shocked” by the nomination, saying it reaffirmed the need for the Senate to hold on to its constitutional duty of providing “advice and consent.”

From Salon

“Everyone else looked at AG as if they were applying for a judicial appointment. They talked about their vaunted legal theories and constitutional bulls**t. Gaetz was the only one who said, ‘Yeah, I’ll go over there and start cuttin’ f***in’ heads.’”

From Salon

The constitutional courts have rewritten what democracy, what voting, what liberty, what the presidency means in order to get us here.

From Slate

In September, over 100 groups signed a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson urging him to block the bill because it “poses a direct threat to the constitutional rights of any American nonprofit, house of worship, or advocacy organization, whether conservative, moderate, or liberal in orientation.”

From Salon

Related Words

• airing
• walk