Word
constitutional
Phoneticscon·sti·tu·tion·al, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌkɑnstəˈtuʃənəɫ/
UK/kˌɒnstɪtjˈuːʃənəl/
Definitions
01legal/political
B2 · Upper Intermediate Law
adj. relating to the system of laws and principles that a country or group is governed by.
adj. relating to the established set of principles or laws that govern a state or organisation.
“The supreme court must decide if the new law is constitutional.”
“The proposed amendment triggered a constitutional crisis, as it appeared to bypass the traditional separation of powers between the executive and the legislature.”
Antonyms
02inherent/natural
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. part of someone's natural physical or mental character.
adj. inherent in the physical or mental makeup of an individual.
“He has a constitutional weakness in his lungs that makes him cough often.”
“Her constitutional optimism allowed her to remain composed even when the project faced significant setbacks.”
Antonyms
03a walk for health
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Humorous · Formal
n. a walk that you take regularly to stay healthy.
n. a walk taken specifically for the benefit of one's health or physical constitution.
“After a heavy lunch, he decided to take a quick constitutional around the park.”
“The elderly professor was known for taking a brisk daily constitutional, regardless of the weather conditions.”
Usage
Usually used with the verb 'take'.
Teaching tip
This is often used today in a slightly joking way by people who want to sound old-fashioned or very formal.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “constitutional” in context.
Verb
01. take a constitutional
“After a heavy dinner, the professor liked to take a brisk constitutional around the park.”
verb + adj + noun
02. uphold constitutional principles
“The Supreme Court was established to uphold constitutional principles and protect civil liberties.”
verb + adj + noun
Adjective
03. constitutional amendment
“Passing a constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress.”
adj + noun
04. constitutional crisis
“The government's refusal to obey the court order triggered a major constitutional crisis.”
adj + noun
05. constitutional monarchy
“In a constitutional monarchy, the king or queen acts as a non-political head of state.”
adj + noun
06. constitutional right
“The protesters argued that their constitutional right to free speech was being violated.”
adj + noun
Adverb
07. strictly constitutional
“The legal team ensured that the new trade regulations were strictly constitutional.”
adv + adj
08. constitutional protection
09. constitutional rights
Real-World Examples
“In every election cycle, voters are asked to ratify constitutional amendments .” “But the crackdown also suspended constitutional protections, leading to mass detention without due process and hundreds of deaths in custody .” “In response to the unrest, the czar agreed to establish a parliamentary State Duma , relinquishing absolute control of Russia and paving the way for a constitutional monarchy akin to Great Britain’s .” “Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu, following the vote, said the prolonged delay had caused “social division and a constitutional impasse”.” Etymology
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).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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