constituent meaning and definition

CONSTITUENT noun

Definition of constituent (noun)

1. an artifact that is one of the individual parts of which a composite entity is made up; especially a part that can be separated from or attached to a system
   • "spare components for cars"; "a component or constituent element of a system"
   • synonyms: component, element
2. a member of a constituency; a citizen who is represented in a government by officials for whom he or she votes
   • "needs continued support by constituents to be re-elected"
3. something determined in relation to something that includes it
   • "he wanted to feel a part of something bigger than himself"; "I read a portion of the manuscript"; "the smaller component is hard to reach"; "the animal constituent of plankton"
   • synonyms: component, component part, part, portion
4. (grammar) a word or phrase or clause forming part of a larger grammatical construction
   • synonyms: grammatical constituent
5. an abstract part of something
   • "jealousy was a component of his character"; "two constituents of a musical composition are melody and harmony"; "the grammatical elements of a sentence"; "a key factor in her success"; "humor: an effective ingredient of a speech"
   • synonyms: component, element, factor, ingredient

CONSTITUENT adjective

Definition of constituent (adjective)

1. constitutional in the structure of something (especially your physical makeup)
   • synonyms: constitutional, constitutive, organic