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

Ultimately, though, neither side finds a compromise and we find ourselves in the midst of a full-blown constitutional crisis.

From FiveThirtyEight

This year, what stumped Hutchins, despite all his resourcefulness, was how he was going to exercise his basic constitutional right to vote during a pandemic.

From ProPublica

Paul, from next-door Kentucky, even cut an ad for Sethi asking voters to back “the constitutional conservative Tennessee deserves.”

From FiveThirtyEight

Because there was a whole movement in constitutional law, to de-center courts.

From Freakonomics

From just a narrowly constitutional perspective, he does seem less aggressive than his predecessors.

From Freakonomics

These matters are not mere threats to abstract constitutional principles.

From The Daily Beast

Actually, the guessing game is over; the weddings have begun, as have weird attempts to circumvent our constitutional democracy.

From The Daily Beast

She fails to appreciate the congressional and constitutional obstacles Johnson had to overcome to win passage of the bill.

From The Daily Beast

Of course, police have constitutional rights to express themselves.

From The Daily Beast

The constitutional problem with this ruling, experts say, is that it places an extra burden on women for being pregnant.

From The Daily Beast

The man did not live, nor could the occasion arrive, which would quicken his constitutional drawl.

From Project Gutenberg

It was commonly thought in America that Mr. Adams, although not a judge, had a singular gift for constitutional interpretation.

From Project Gutenberg

But he would not, with his build and constitutional habit, last out here for one fortnight.

From Project Gutenberg

Kilkelly was a busy, but never seemed an overworked man, due I suppose to some constitutional quality he enjoyed.

From Project Gutenberg

The three plodded on, taking a diligent constitutional walk, exchanging very few words, and those chiefly between the girls.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• airing
• walk