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REFERENCE

constitutional

adj. · n.
US //ˌkɑnstəˈtuʃənəɫ// UK //kˌɒnstɪtjˈuːʃənəl// con·sti·tu·tion·al
  1. 1 legal/political (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Law

    relating to the system of laws and principles that a country or group is governed by.

    relating to the established set of principles or laws that govern a state or organisation.

    Example

    The supreme court must decide if the new law is constitutional.

    Example

    The proposed amendment triggered a constitutional crisis, as it appeared to bypass the traditional separation of powers between the executive and the legislature.
  2. 2 inherent/natural (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    part of someone's natural physical or mental character.

    inherent in the physical or mental makeup of an individual.

    Example

    He has a constitutional weakness in his lungs that makes him cough often.

    Example

    Her constitutional optimism allowed her to remain composed even when the project faced significant setbacks.
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  1. 3 a walk for health (n.)
    C1 Advanced Humorous Formal

    a walk that you take regularly to stay healthy.

    a walk taken specifically for the benefit of one's health or physical constitution.

    Example

    After a heavy lunch, he decided to take a quick constitutional around the park.

    Example

    The elderly professor was known for taking a brisk daily constitutional, regardless of the weather conditions.

    Usage

    Usually used with the verb 'take'.

    Teacher's tip

    This is often used today in a slightly joking way by people who want to sound old-fashioned or very formal.
Origin

PIE word *ḱóm From constitution + -al (suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’ forming adjectives). Constitution is derived 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”) (from con- (prefix indicating a being or bringing together of several objects) + statuō (“to set up, station; to establish; to determine, fix”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- (“to stand (up)”))) + -tiō (suffix forming nouns relating to actions or the results of actions), -tiōnem (accusative singular of -tiō).

Word family

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