Definition of CONSTITUENT
- ️Wed Mar 19 2025
1
: a member of a constituency
pledged to help her elderly constituents
2
3
: one who authorizes another to act as agent : principal
4
: a structural unit of a definable syntactic, semantic, or phonological category that consists of one or more linguistic elements (such as words, morphemes, or features) and that can occur as a component of a larger construction
1
: serving to form, compose, or make up a unit or whole : component
2
: having the power to create a government or frame or amend a constitution
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for constituent
the basic elements of geometry
component and constituent may designate any of the substances (whether elements or compounds) or the qualities that enter into the makeup of a complex product; component stresses its separate entity or distinguishable character.
the components of a stereo system
constituent stresses its essential and formative character.
the constituents of a chemical compound
ingredient applies to any of the substances which when combined form a particular mixture.
the ingredients of a cocktail
Examples of constituent in a Sentence
Noun
She's pledged to help her elderly constituents. Many senators have received calls from constituents who want them to vote in favor of the law. the chemical constituents of the liquid Adjective
The company can be separated into several constituent parts.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The congresswoman said her position is supported by the majority of Americans, most clearly evidenced by the heated town halls many members have been holding in recent weeks with their constituents.
—
Isabella Murray, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2025
There’s a very clear boundary between what rural constituents are experiencing and what urban constituents are experiencing with respect to education.
—Taylor Kate Brown, ProPublica, 14 Mar. 2025
The meeting was tamer than some constituent meetings held by Republicans, who hold majorities in the House and the Senate.
—Hannah Schoenbaum, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2025
Water extracted from ice could serve multiple purposes for astronauts, not only as drinking water but also for producing rocket fuel by splitting water molecules into their constituent parts — oxygen and hydrogen.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for constituent
Word History
Etymology
Noun
French constituant, from Middle French, from present participle of constituer to constitute, from Latin constituere — see constitute
Adjective
Latin constituent-, constituens, present participle of constituere — see constituent entry 1
First Known Use
Noun
1622, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Adjective
1660, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of constituent was in 1622
Browse Nearby Words
Cite this Entry
“Constituent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constituent. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.
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Last Updated: 19 Mar 2025 - Updated example sentences
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