constitution

constitution — noun

1. A set of basic rules and principles that define how a country, organization, or

1.nounB2
Definition

A set of basic rules and principles that define how a country, organization, or group is governed and what rights its members have.

Example

Cyrus studied the nation's constitution before beginning his political career.

Adaeze argued that the new law violated the constitution of her country.

collocation: violate the constitution

Common collocations
  • draft a constitution
  • amend the constitution
  • written constitution
  • constitution guarantees
  • violate the constitution
  • adopt a constitution
Synonyms
  • charter

    a formal written document that defines rights and privileges, often granted by a higher authority; narrower than constitution

  • fundamental law

    emphasises the legal status of the constitution as the highest source of law; more formal

  • basic law

    used when a full constitution has not yet been adopted, or in some systems as an alternative term; less common in everyday speech

Antonyms
  • anarchy

    absence of governing rules or principles, the opposite of having a constitution

Grammar Patterns

the constitution of [country/organization]

[country]'s constitution

Usage Note

Often capitalized when referring to a specific national document — for example, the US Constitution. Distinguish from sense 3: this sense concerns governance and legal rights, not physical structure or makeup.

Common Mistakes

They amended the constitution of the computer.
They updated the configuration of the computer.
'constitution' (sense 1) only applies to governance rules of states or organizations, not technical systems.
The Constitution of Russia is written on paper.
The constitution of Russia is a written document.
Capitalize only when referring to a specific country's document by name, e.g. 'the US Constitution.'

2. The physical condition of a person's body, especially how naturally strong, heal

2.nounB2
Definition

The physical condition of a person's body, especially how naturally strong, healthy, or resilient it is.

Example

Otis has a strong constitution and rarely gets sick even in winter.

collocation: strong constitution

Years of poor eating habits had weakened Apinya's constitution by the time she turned forty.

collocation: weaken [possessive] constitution

Common collocations
  • strong constitution
  • weak constitution
  • resilient constitution
  • robust constitution
  • improve one's constitution
  • weaken one's constitution
Synonyms
  • physique

    focuses on the shape, size, and muscular build of the body rather than overall health

  • health

    broader in meaning, including mental wellbeing; less formal and far more common in everyday language

Grammar Patterns

[possessive] + constitution

[adjective] + constitution

Usage Note

Typically preceded by a possessive (his, her, their) or a quality adjective (strong, weak, robust, poor). This sense is somewhat formal — in casual conversation, words like 'health' or 'fitness' are far more common.

Common Mistakes

She has a good constitution of body.
She has a good constitution.
'constitution' already refers to the body; adding 'of body' is redundant.

3. The particular combination or arrangement of parts, elements, or ingredients tha

3.nounC1
Definition

The particular combination or arrangement of parts, elements, or ingredients that form something and determine its nature.

Example

Christopher studied the chemical constitution of the soil before planting anything.

collocation: chemical constitution of [substance]

Andrei examined the constitution of the rock sample under a powerful microscope.

Common collocations
  • chemical constitution
  • genetic constitution
  • social constitution
  • constitution of [something]
  • physical constitution of [something]
Synonyms
  • composition

    more common and broadly applicable; preferred in everyday and scientific contexts

  • makeup

    informal; common in spoken English for describing what something consists of

  • structure

    emphasises the arrangement and organisation of parts, not just what they are

Grammar Patterns

the constitution of [something]

[adjective] constitution of [something]

Usage Note

Often followed by 'of' to specify what is being described. The modifying adjective typically names the kind of composition — chemical, genetic, social, political, molecular. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense describes the makeup of a thing, not the rules that govern a group.

Common Mistakes

The constitution of this soup is delicious.
The composition of this soup is well balanced.
'constitution' describes structure or makeup, not flavour or quality.

4. The formal act or process of creating, setting up, or establishing an institutio

4.nounC1
Definition

The formal act or process of creating, setting up, or establishing an institution, organization, or system.

Example

The constitution of the new government took place after the election results were announced.

formal register: constitution of [institution]

Matthew attended the ceremony for the constitution of the first student council.

Common collocations
  • constitution of [an institution]
  • constitution of a government
  • formal constitution of [something]
Synonyms
  • formation

    more general; can be used for both abstract and concrete things; less formal

  • establishment

    similar register but broader; used for institutions, systems, and also physical entities

Antonyms
  • dissolution

    the formal ending or breaking up of an institution or organization

  • abolition

    the official ending of a system, practice, or institution

Grammar Patterns

the constitution of [institution/organization]

Usage Note

This sense is formal and appears mostly in historical, legal, or academic writing. It is very rare in everyday conversation — verbs like 'formation', 'creation', or 'establishment' are more natural in most contexts.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Constitution is the broadest term, referring to the complete set of fundamental principles — whether written or unwritten — by which a state or organisation is governed. A charter is a formal document that grants specific rights or establishes an institution, often issued by a monarch or higher authority; it is narrower in scope than a constitution. A bill of rights is a specific part of a constitution (or a separate document) that lists individual freedoms and protections — it covers only rights, not the structure of government. Basic law is sometimes used as a transitional or provisional substitute for a full constitution, as in Hong Kong or pre-unification Germany. For example: 'The US Constitution includes the Bill of Rights as its first ten amendments,' and 'The school's charter was approved by the board in 2015, but its constitution was not drafted until 2018.'

constitution ↗charter ↗bill of rightsbasic law

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • draft a constitution
  • amend the constitution
  • adopt a constitution
  • constitution of [country]

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'constitutio' (a settled arrangement, regulation, or decree), derived from 'constituere' (to set up, establish, appoint), which combines 'com-' (together) and 'statuere' (to set, place). The word entered English through Old French in the 14th century, originally referring to any established law or decree. The political sense — the fundamental laws of a state — emerged in the 17th and 18th centuries during the Enlightenment. The physical-health sense (a person's bodily condition) developed in the 16th century, based on the idea of the body's 'constitution' or makeup.