constituent
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a person who lives and votes in a specific area represented by a politician.
n.a resident of a specific electoral district who is represented by an elected official.
Simple“The senator spent the morning answering letters from his constituents about the new park.”
In context“The representative faced a difficult town hall meeting where constituents expressed their frustration regarding the proposed changes to local zoning laws.”
UsageUsually refers to the people within a specific district rather than the general population.
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.one of the parts that a substance or object is made of.
n.a component part of something larger, such as a chemical compound or a mechanical system.
Simple“Nitrogen is a major constituent of the air we breathe.”
In context“The scientist analysed the individual constituents of the alloy to determine why the structure had failed under high pressure.”
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
n.a word or group of words that functions as a single unit within a sentence.
n.a functional unit of a phrase or clause in a hierarchical linguistic structure.
Simple“In the sentence 'the big dog barked', 'the big dog' is a constituent.”
In context“The linguist used a tree diagram to illustrate how each constituent functioned within the complex sentence structure.”
UsageUsed specifically in the field of syntax and structural linguistics.
- 04 C1 Advanced
adj.describes something that is a necessary part of a larger whole.
adj.serving as a component or essential part of a larger system or entity.
Simple“The constituent parts of the machine were shipped separately to the factory.”
In context“The committee examined the constituent elements of the proposal to ensure each department's needs were addressed.”
“For my constituents, this is about improving the places they live and raise their families.”
“Photograph: Alicia Canter/The Guardian “I’m appalled at the situation my constituents find themselves in,” said Uma Kumaran, the area’s Labour MP.”
From Latin cōnstituēns, present participle of cōnstituō (“I establish”), from com- (“together”) + statuo (“I set, place, establish”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.