constituent
kun-STICH-oo-ent
/kənˈstɪtʃuənt/
A member of a constituency; a component part of something.
In politics, it specifically refers to a voter in a particular area who is represented by an elected official.
The story behind the word. From 'con-' (together) and 'statuere' (to set). A constituent is literally someone who 'stands together' with others to establish or compose a larger body, whether that's a chemical compound or a government.
Word relationships
- voter: Voter is anyone who votes; constituent is someone specifically represented by a particular official.
- component: Component is used for physical objects; constituent can be used for both people and objects.
- whole: The whole is the entire thing, while the constituent is just one part.
Commonly confused with
- constitution: A constitution is the document that sets up the rules; constituents are the people who make up the body governed by those rules.
Word family
- constituency (noun): A body of voters in a specified area who elect a representative to a legislative body.
Collocations
- constituent parts
- constituent assembly
- meet with constituents
- constituent elements
Example sentences
- "The senator spent the weekend meeting with her constituents to discuss the new infrastructure bill." Political representation.
- "Nitrogen is a major constituent of the Earth's atmosphere." Scientific description.
Memory hook
Constituents 'Con'stitute (make up) the 'State'. A part of the whole.
When not to use
Don't use it to mean 'citizen' in a general sense; it specifically implies the relationship to a representative.
Fun facts
- In chemistry, a constituent is an essential part of a mixture that cannot be separated without changing the nature of the substance.
Explore more words
constituency, Component, nonpartisan, lobby, citizen, canvass
Also appears in
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