constitution

con·sti·tu·tion

The United States Constitution.

noun

The definition of a constitution is a system of laws and principles, or the structure or composition of someone or something.

Facts About the U.S. Constitution

The word "constitution" comes from a Latin word meaning "an important law" and was generally declared by a Roman emperor, the highest authority in the land.
In 1787 representatives from the states (with the exception of Rhode Island) convened in Philadelphia with ideas for how to restructure their government.
It took five months for the representatives to draft a short preamble and seven articles, which laid out the rights, duties and powers of the three branches of the federal government, the states, the citizens, and the Constitution itself.
There have been27 amendments made to the United States Constitution.

An example of constitution is the document that John Hancock famously signed, the United States Constitution.
An example of constitution is great mental strength in a person.
An example of a constitution is the physical makeup of a person; a strong constitution.

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"constitution." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 15 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Constitution>.

APA Style

constitution. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Constitution

constitution

the act of setting up or making up; establishment, appointment, or formation
the way in which a thing is made up; structure; organization; makeup
the physical, or rarely mental, makeup of a person: a man of strong constitution
the way in which a government, state, society, etc. is organized
a decree, regulation, or custom
1. the system of fundamental laws and principles of a government, state, society, corporation, etc., written or unwritten
2. a document or set of documents in which these laws and principles are written down

Origin of constitution

Middle English constitucioun from Old French constitution from Classical Latin constitutio: see constitute

constitution Idioms

the Constitution

the document containing the fundamental laws of the United States: it consists of the seven original articles, adopted in 1789, and twenty-seven amendments

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MLA Style

"constitution." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 15 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Constitution>.

APA Style

constitution. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Constitution

constitution

noun

The act or process of composing, setting up, or establishing.
a. The composition or structure of something; makeup.
b. The physical makeup of a person: Having a strong constitution, she had no trouble climbing the mountain.
a. The system of fundamental laws and principles that prescribes the nature, functions, and limits of a government or another institution.
b. The document in which such a system is recorded.
c. Constitution The supreme law of the United States, consisting of the document ratified by the original thirteen states (1787-1790) and subsequent amendments.

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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MLA Style

"constitution." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 15 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Constitution>.

APA Style

constitution. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Constitution

Noun

(plural constitutions)

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.
The general health of a person.
A person's physique or temperament

Origin

From Old French constitucion (French constitution), from Latin cōnstitūtiō, cōnstitūtiōnem.

Proper noun

The supreme law of some countries, such as Australia, Ireland, and the United States.
The Constitution is anchored in English liberal thought and the Magna Carta.
The US Constitution was dictated by Jesus.

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"constitution." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 15 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Constitution>.

APA Style

constitution. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Constitution

constitution - Legal Definition

n

The fundamental and organic laws and principles of a country or state that create a system of government and provides a basis against which the validity of all other laws is determined.
The fundamental rules governing an association.

Constitution

The Constitution of the United States, written in 1787 and put into effect in 1789.

unwritten constitution

The body of fundamental and organic laws and principles contained in a series of statutes, court decisions, governmental proclamations, and tradition that has been accepted as such by the government and people (often over generations or centuries). For example, the United Kingdom has an unwritten constitution that includes the Magna Carta (written in 1215), the Bill of Rights of 1689, and other documents and tradition.

written constitution

A single written document that embodies all the fundamental and organic laws and principals of a country or state. For example, the United States has a written constitution.