con·sti·tu·tion·al
ˌkän(t)-stə-ˈtü-shnəl 
-shə-nᵊl,
-ˈtyü-
1
: relating to, inherent in, or affecting the constitution of body or mind
2
: of, relating to, or entering into the fundamental makeup of something : essential
3
: being in accordance with or authorized by the constitution of a state or society
a constitutional government
4
: regulated by or ruling according to a constitution
a constitutional monarchy
5
: of or relating to a constitution
a constitutional crisis
6
: loyal to or supporting an established constitution or form of government
: a walk taken for one's health
Synonyms
Examples of constitutional in a Sentence
Adjective
the constitutional guarantee of free speech
a constitutional right to vote
Constitutional symptoms of the disease include headache and fever.
He has a constitutional dislike of controversy.
Noun
She's gone out for her morning constitutional.
went for my evening constitutional in the park
Recent Examples on the Web
Ashoka Mody, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2024
Germany, for example, has a constitutional fiscal rule that limits deficits to 0.35% of GDP per year, though that can be extended during economic downturns.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 26 Apr. 2024
As the Justices ground through nearly three hours of arguments, my mind went into split-screen mode: the gray decorum of constitutional debate over executive power in Washington, D.C., and the sordid vividness of Trump’s criminal trial about hush money happening at the same time in New York City.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2024
Voting is a constitutional right most Kentuckians hold dear.
—Ray Padilla, The Courier-Journal, 26 Apr. 2024
This constitutional change would give the U.S. church that flexibility, while defining autonomy more closely for all of the regions.
—CBS News, 26 Apr. 2024
Importantly, constitutional arguments can also be addressed to audiences other than courts.
—David Pozen, TIME, 25 Apr. 2024
Barry's legal team filed a $15 million lawsuit against prosecutors and investigators in 2023, accusing them of violating his constitutional rights.
—Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 25 Apr. 2024
Rosen’s efforts ignore the following constitutional realities: 1.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2024
WIRED, 16 Nov. 2023
And at that point, there was a monarchy, the dynasty at the time, and the constitutionals were looking to reform it and limit the monarch's power.
—Foreign Affairs, 24 May 2016
Balmy breezes and clear blue skies are enveloping the Pharmalot campus, where the official mascot is eagerly awaiting his first constitutional of the day and the short person is sleeping in.
—Ed Silverman, STAT, 4 Jan. 2023
Supreme Court justices take two oaths, one judicial, and the other constitutional.
—Joanne M. Pierce, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2020
Now more are on the streets, taking morning constitutionals, pushing strollers or riding bicycles wearing yellow kitchen gloves.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 1 May 2020
If your mom loves to listen to music during her daily constitutionals, but is running out of her cache of CDs, a Spotify subscription will be a revelation.
—Sara Hendricks, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2020
But the Rabbit kept going, disappearing into the mist long before Herr Doktor finished his constitutionals.
—Marc Peruzzi, Outside Online, 15 May 2018
Among the dissenting Islamist movements is the Saadet Party, a movement made up of ultraconservatives that in some ways is the intellectual predecessor to the AKP, but whose leadership actively campaigned against the April constitutional changes.
—Umar Farooq, latimes.com, 10 May 2017
Adjective
Subsequent leaders, rather than plugging the cracks in India’s constitutional foundation, expanded them, not least by using the state’s coercive power to circumvent democratic processes for personal or partisan advantage.
—Ashoka Mody, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2024
Germany, for example, has a constitutional fiscal rule that limits deficits to 0.35% of GDP per year, though that can be extended during economic downturns.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 26 Apr. 2024
As the Justices ground through nearly three hours of arguments, my mind went into split-screen mode: the gray decorum of constitutional debate over executive power in Washington, D.C., and the sordid vividness of Trump’s criminal trial about hush money happening at the same time in New York City.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2024
Voting is a constitutional right most Kentuckians hold dear.
—Ray Padilla, The Courier-Journal, 26 Apr. 2024
This constitutional change would give the U.S. church that flexibility, while defining autonomy more closely for all of the regions.
—CBS News, 26 Apr. 2024
Importantly, constitutional arguments can also be addressed to audiences other than courts.
—David Pozen, TIME, 25 Apr. 2024
Barry's legal team filed a $15 million lawsuit against prosecutors and investigators in 2023, accusing them of violating his constitutional rights.
—Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 25 Apr. 2024
Rosen’s efforts ignore the following constitutional realities: 1.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2024
Noun
The working group stresses that federal courts have time and again ruled the 702 program constitutional—when its procedures are not skirted by negligent employees and willful violators for nefarious or self-serving means.
—WIRED, 16 Nov. 2023
And at that point, there was a monarchy, the dynasty at the time, and the constitutionals were looking to reform it and limit the monarch's power.
—Foreign Affairs, 24 May 2016
Balmy breezes and clear blue skies are enveloping the Pharmalot campus, where the official mascot is eagerly awaiting his first constitutional of the day and the short person is sleeping in.
—Ed Silverman, STAT, 4 Jan. 2023
Supreme Court justices take two oaths, one judicial, and the other constitutional.
—Joanne M. Pierce, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2020
Now more are on the streets, taking morning constitutionals, pushing strollers or riding bicycles wearing yellow kitchen gloves.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 1 May 2020
If your mom loves to listen to music during her daily constitutionals, but is running out of her cache of CDs, a Spotify subscription will be a revelation.
—Sara Hendricks, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2020
But the Rabbit kept going, disappearing into the mist long before Herr Doktor finished his constitutionals.
—Marc Peruzzi, Outside Online, 15 May 2018
Among the dissenting Islamist movements is the Saadet Party, a movement made up of ultraconservatives that in some ways is the intellectual predecessor to the AKP, but whose leadership actively campaigned against the April constitutional changes.
—Umar Farooq, latimes.com, 10 May 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'constitutional.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to constitutional
Dictionary Entries Near constitutional
Cite this Entry
“Constitutional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constitutional. Accessed 1 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
constitutional
1 of 2 adjective
con·sti·tu·tion·al
ˈkän(t)-stə-ˈt(y)ü-shnəl
-shən-ᵊl
1
: of or relating to a person's physical or mental makeup
2
: of, relating to, or in agreement with a constitution
a constitutional amendment
constitutional rights
constitutionally
adverb
-shnə-lē
-shən-ᵊl-ē
constitutional
2 of 2 noun
: exercise (as a walk) taken for one's health
Medical Definition
constitutional
noun
con·sti·tu·tion·al
-shnəl, -shən-ᵊl
: a walk taken for one's health
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share