# constitutive

/ˌkɑnˈstɪtuˌtɪv/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/constitutive
Updated: 2026-10-14

## Definition

forming a basic and necessary part of something. Without this part, the thing would not be what it is.

For teachers: forming an essential part of something's identity or structure, such that removal would alter its nature. Often contrasted with merely regulative or accidental features.

## Examples

- Trust is constitutive of any strong friendship.
- Respect for deadlines is constitutive of professional life in the newsroom, where every role depends on timing.
- Philosophers argue that shared language is constitutive of human thought itself, not merely a tool for expressing ideas already formed.

## Synonyms

essential, fundamental, integral, basic

## Antonyms

accidental, incidental, peripheral, optional

## Usage notes

- Typically followed by 'of' plus a noun phrase ('constitutive of').

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