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constitution

n.
US //ˌkɑnstəˈtuʃən// UK //kˌɒnstɪtjˈuːʃən// con·sti·tu·tion
  1. 1 system of laws (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Law

    the set of basic laws and principles that a country or organization is governed by.

    the fundamental principles and laws of a nation, state, or social group that determine the powers and duties of the government.

    Example

    The country's constitution protects the right of every citizen to vote in elections.

    Example

    The proposed amendment to the constitution requires a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament to pass into law.

    Usage

    Often capitalized when referring to a specific document, such as the US Constitution.
  2. 2 physical health (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    your general health and how strong your body is.

    the physical makeup of an individual, specifically regarding their inherent health, strength, and resilience.

    Example

    He has a very strong constitution and rarely gets sick, even in winter.

    Example

    Despite her advanced age, she possessed a robust constitution that allowed her to recover quickly from the surgery.

    Teacher's tip

    In modern English, this is a formal way to describe health; 'health' or 'build' are more common in daily speech.
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  1. 3 structure or makeup (n.)
    C1 Advanced Academic

    the way that something is put together or organized.

    the composition or structure of something; the way in which various parts are set up to form a whole.

    Example

    Scientists are studying the chemical constitution of the soil on Mars.

    Example

    The genetic constitution of the species has changed significantly over thousands of years of isolation on the island.
Origin

PIE word *ḱóm From Middle English constitucioun, constitucion (“edict, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, statute; body of laws or rules, or customs; body of fundamental principles; principle or rule (of science); creation”) from Old French constitucion (modern French constitution), a learned borrowing from Latin cōnstitūtiō, cōnstitūtiōnem (“character, constitution, disposition, nature; definition; point in dispute; order, regulation; arrangement, system”), from cōnstituō (“to establish, set up; to confirm; to decide, resolve”). Equivalent to constitute + -ion.

Word family

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