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
Nina Totenberg, NPR, 15 Apr. 2024
The blocks raise questions about whether schools’ online censorship runs afoul of constitutional law and federal guidance.
—Tara García Mathewson, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024
But the recent trend of the press to intrude into the private lives of innocent individuals in the name of ‘getting the story’ demonstrates the dwindling interest in the equally valid constitutional right to privacy.
—Christie D’zurilla, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Eugene Volokh, a law professor at UCLA and renowned civil liberties scholar, argued that students did not have a constitutional right to protest at Chemerinsky’s home.
—Koh Ewe, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
Critics of the program say that relying on the FBI to internally police against its own constitutional violations is a tactic that has failed in the past, and that the bureau can no longer be trusted not to spy on Americans without cause.
—Dell Cameron, WIRED, 12 Apr. 2024
What is really being fought over here is a hazy, transcendent national concept that, since Oct. 7, has overtaken more firmly constitutional principles of free expression and free association.
—Jason Farago, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024
One set of likely candidates for deliberation are three competing constitutional amendments involving voting requirements for taxes.
—Joe Mathews, The Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2024
Following Muñiz’s questions in oral arguments, opponents of the ballot measure submitted information to the court supporting the idea of constitutional rights for fetuses.
—Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 2 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
Nonetheless, the jumble of opinions would appear, at least potentially, to have far-reaching consequences by dramatically limiting the effects of any constitutional challenge to a state or federal law.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 15 Apr. 2024
The blocks raise questions about whether schools’ online censorship runs afoul of constitutional law and federal guidance.
—Tara García Mathewson, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024
But the recent trend of the press to intrude into the private lives of innocent individuals in the name of ‘getting the story’ demonstrates the dwindling interest in the equally valid constitutional right to privacy.
—Christie D’zurilla, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Eugene Volokh, a law professor at UCLA and renowned civil liberties scholar, argued that students did not have a constitutional right to protest at Chemerinsky’s home.
—Koh Ewe, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
Critics of the program say that relying on the FBI to internally police against its own constitutional violations is a tactic that has failed in the past, and that the bureau can no longer be trusted not to spy on Americans without cause.
—Dell Cameron, WIRED, 12 Apr. 2024
What is really being fought over here is a hazy, transcendent national concept that, since Oct. 7, has overtaken more firmly constitutional principles of free expression and free association.
—Jason Farago, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024
One set of likely candidates for deliberation are three competing constitutional amendments involving voting requirements for taxes.
—Joe Mathews, The Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2024
Following Muñiz’s questions in oral arguments, opponents of the ballot measure submitted information to the court supporting the idea of constitutional rights for fetuses.
—Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 2 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 19 Apr. 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
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