Definition of CONSTITUTION

constitution

Meanings

Plural: constitutions

Noun

  • law determining the fundamental political principles of a government
  • the act of forming or establishing something
    • "the constitution of a PTA group last year"
  • the constitution written at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 and subsequently ratified by the original thirteen states
  • the way in which someone or something is composed
  • a United States 44-gun frigate that was one of the first three naval ships built by the United States; it won brilliant victories over British frigates during the War of 1812 and is without doubt the most famous ship in the history of the United States Navy; it has been rebuilt and is anchored in the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston
  • The act, or process of setting something up, or establishing something; the composition or structure of such a thing; its makeup.
  • The formal or informal system of primary principles and laws that regulates a government or other institutions.
  • A legal document describing such a formal system.
  • A document issued by a religious authority serving to promulgate some particular church laws or doctrines.
  • A person's physical makeup or temperament, especially in respect of robustness.
  • The general health of a person.

Origin / Etymology

PIE word
*ḱóm
From Middle English constitucioun, constitucion (“edict, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, statute; body of laws or rules, or customs; body of fundamental principles; principle or rule (of science); creation”) from Old French constitucion (modern French constitution), a learned borrowing from Latin cōnstitūtiō, cōnstitūtiōnem (“character, constitution, disposition, nature; definition; point in dispute; order, regulation; arrangement, system”), from cōnstituō (“to establish, set up; to confirm; to decide, resolve”). Equivalent to constitute + -ion.

Synonyms

arrangement, composition, configuration, constitution, Constitution of the United States, establishment, form, formation, fundamental law, make-up, makeup, Old Ironsides, organic law, organisation, organization, physical composition, structure, U.S. Constitution, United States Constitution, US Constitution

Scrabble Score: 14

constitution is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
constitution is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
constitution is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 18

constitution is a valid Words With Friends word