constituency
noun
con·stit·u·en·cy
kən-ˈstich-wən(t)-sē 
-ˈsti-chə-,
-ˈsti-chü-ən(t)-
plural constituencies
1
a
: a body of citizens entitled to elect a representative (as to a legislative or executive position)
the governor's liberal constituency
b
: the residents in an electoral district
The senator's constituency includes a large minority population.
c
: an electoral district
2
a
: a group or body that patronizes, supports, or offers representation
creating … a grass-roots constituency for continuing the project—
Fred Reed
Fred Reed
b
: the people involved in or served by an organization (such as a business or institution)
… regards its corporate customers as its prime constituency.—Andrew Hacker
Andrew HackerExamples of constituency in a Sentence
The senator's constituency includes a large minority population.
He was elected to represent a Liverpool constituency.
Recent Examples on the Web
Most polls show Biden trailing Trump, the former president and presumptive Republican nominee, in a head-to-head contest, in part because Biden is underperforming among Black, Latino, and young voters − three crucial constituencies of the Democratic base.
—Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2024
And with Jewish Americans and Black Americans providing two key constituencies for Biden's reelection bid, this could be a tough needle to thread.
—Devan Schwartz, NPR, 28 Mar. 2024
Basically, these speakers were each meant to speak to a slightly different constituency, because RFK Jr.’s main focus for so long has been anti-vaccine activism.
—Makena Kelly, WIRED, 28 Mar. 2024
His willingness to buck his party put him at odds with teachers, trial lawyers and other powerful Democratic constituencies.
—Michael H. Brown, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators march during a visit by President Joe Biden to a key constituency in a 2024 battleground state, in Warren, Michigan, Feb. 1, 2024.
—Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Mar. 2024
Also, constituencies near large urban cores or large cities tend to lean Democratic, in part because there is more of an emphasis on struggling to meet basic needs, Dievendorf said.
—Viet Anh Phan, Donte Smith, Detroit Free Press, 28 Mar. 2024
Analysts say that Netanyahu’s bellicose rhetoric over a potential Rafah operation is aimed in large part at his domestic constituency, overstating its imminence for political gain.
—Louisa Loveluck, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2024
Levelling Up became a pork-barrel exercise: of seven hundred and twenty-five million pounds earmarked in June, 2021, about eighty per cent was for Conservative constituencies.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2024
And with Jewish Americans and Black Americans providing two key constituencies for Biden's reelection bid, this could be a tough needle to thread.
—Devan Schwartz, NPR, 28 Mar. 2024
Basically, these speakers were each meant to speak to a slightly different constituency, because RFK Jr.’s main focus for so long has been anti-vaccine activism.
—Makena Kelly, WIRED, 28 Mar. 2024
His willingness to buck his party put him at odds with teachers, trial lawyers and other powerful Democratic constituencies.
—Michael H. Brown, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators march during a visit by President Joe Biden to a key constituency in a 2024 battleground state, in Warren, Michigan, Feb. 1, 2024.
—Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Mar. 2024
Also, constituencies near large urban cores or large cities tend to lean Democratic, in part because there is more of an emphasis on struggling to meet basic needs, Dievendorf said.
—Viet Anh Phan, Donte Smith, Detroit Free Press, 28 Mar. 2024
Analysts say that Netanyahu’s bellicose rhetoric over a potential Rafah operation is aimed in large part at his domestic constituency, overstating its imminence for political gain.
—Louisa Loveluck, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2024
Levelling Up became a pork-barrel exercise: of seven hundred and twenty-five million pounds earmarked in June, 2021, about eighty per cent was for Conservative constituencies.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'constituency.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near constituency
Cite this Entry
“Constituency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constituency. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
constituency
noun
con·stit·u·en·cy
kən-ˈstich-(ə-)wən-sē
plural constituencies
1
: a body of citizens having the right to elect a representative to a legislature
2
: the people living in an electoral district
3
: an electoral district
Legal Definition
constituency
noun
con·stit·u·en·cy
kən-ˈsti-chə-wən-sē
plural constituencies
1
: a body of citizens entitled to elect a representative (as to a legislative or executive office)
2
: the residents in an electoral district
3
: an electoral district
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