constituent

1 of 2

noun

con·​stit·​u·​ent kən-ˈstich-wənt How to pronounce constituent (audio)
-ˈsti-chə-,
-ˈsti-chü-ənt
1
: a member of a constituency
pledged to help her elderly constituents
2
: an essential part : component, element
The organic constituents of plants, animals, and microorganisms …Harry S. Mosher et al.
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

constituent

2 of 2

adjective

1
: serving to form, compose, or make up a unit or whole : component
constituent parts
2
: having the power to create a government or frame or amend a constitution
a constituent assembly
constituently adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for constituent

element, component, constituent, ingredient mean one of the parts of a compound or complex whole.

element applies to any such part and often connotes irreducible simplicity.

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
Noun
Her constituents represent some of the poorest in the city, and the city has historically underinvested in her district. Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 4 Mar. 2024 Cut off from her constituents, Vernham’s ego acts as a reality distortion field. Alison Herman, Variety, 3 Mar. 2024 Alphabet’s losses came as major stock indexes were flat in a rather uneventful day of trading, and Alphabet was the biggest percentage faller among S&P 500 constituents with a market capitalization over $50 billion. Derek Saul, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 That decision came off as brazen, even for an administration that has made systematic efforts to lower vaccination rates among its constituents over the past two years. Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2024 The issues raised most by my constituents are homelessness, housing affordability and the condition of city infrastructure, from streets to storm drains. The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Feb. 2024 India is a union of states whose constituent units have their own governments elected on the basis of universal adult franchise. Ramachandra Guha, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 After always taking the time to hear out his constituents, he’s delivered millions in funding to improve our roads, schools and public safety here in Silicon Valley and worked to lower our cost of living. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2024 Observers of Florida politics say that Gaetz’s constituents don’t particularly care about the inquiry. Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2024
Adjective
No state requires more than one of these methods, according to Lindsay Nichols, a policy director at Giffords, which advocates for stricter gun laws and was founded by former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), who was shot in the head at a constituent event in Tucson in 2011. Samantha Young, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Instead, guests sampled the locomotive’s constituent parts served in little paper boats. The Indianapolis Star, 27 Feb. 2024 People expect a high-quality level of constituent resources. Journal Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2024 The primary mode for competition is between integration models, not the constituent parts, and certainly not the capabilities of generative AI. John G. Singer, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2024 While action on the House Floor is stalled, constituent groups are still meeting on the Hill. Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling, The New Republic, 27 Oct. 2023 While neurons and their branching dendrites are often pictured as trees, astrocytes are more like a fungus, forming a tightly woven mat that blankets the brain and shares information among its constituent parts. Laura Dattaro, Quanta Magazine, 18 Oct. 2023 Along the way, his use of constituent service funds to buy tickets to sporting events prompted questions about his use of taxpayer money. Paul Schwartzman, Washington Post, 29 Jan. 2024 There are 54 constituent countries that make up the continent and each one of them must operate with due diligence both toward the needs and aspirations of its own citizenry and a concomitant coherence in its foreign policy. Ivor Ichikowitz, Fortune, 26 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'constituent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near constituent

Cite this Entry

“Constituent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constituent. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

constituent

1 of 2 noun
con·​stit·​u·​ent kən-ˈstich-(ə-)wənt How to pronounce constituent (audio)
1
: one of the parts of which a thing is made up : element, ingredient
2
: any of the voters who elect a person to represent them

constituent

2 of 2 adjective
1
: forming a part of a whole : component
2
: having the power to create a government or make or change a constitution
a constituent assembly

Legal Definition

constituent

1 of 2 noun
con·​stit·​u·​ent kən-ˈsti-chə-wənt How to pronounce constituent (audio)
1
: one who authorizes another to act as agent : principal
2
: a member of a constituency

constituent

2 of 2 adjective
: having the power to create a government or to frame or amend a constitution
a constituent assembly

More from Merriam-Webster on constituent

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