constituency
- 01 C1 Advanced
a specific area of a country where people elect a member of parliament or a similar official.
a geographical area or district represented by an elected official in a legislative body.
Simple“The politician spent the weekend visiting small towns in his constituency to hear from local people.”
In context“Boundary changes meant that several historic villages were moved into a new constituency, significantly altering the local political landscape before the general election.”
UsageCountable noun; often used with 'parliamentary' or 'local'.
- 02 C1 Advanced
the group of people who live and vote in a particular area.
the collective body of voters or residents within a specific electoral district.
Simple“The new law was unpopular with the local constituency, leading to many protests.”
In context“The representative was accused of ignoring the needs of her constituency in favour of national party interests.”
UsageCan be treated as a singular or plural collective noun.
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
a group of people who support a specific person, idea, or organisation.
a body of supporters or an interest group that provides a base of power or influence for a person or movement.
Simple“The university has a large constituency of international students who care about global issues.”
In context“The CEO had to balance the demands of the shareholders with the concerns of the company's environmental constituency.”
UsageOften used metaphorically in business or academic contexts.
“It was the culmination of a showdown in the Clacton constituency, which was boycotted by the other major British parties.”
“The turnout was about 14% lower than it was in the 2024 general election in the constituency but about average for recent Westminster by-elections.”
From constituent + -ency.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.