constitutive

adjective

con·​sti·​tu·​tive ˈkän(t)-stə-ˌtü-tiv How to pronounce constitutive (audio)
-ˌtyü-;
kən-ˈsti-chə-tiv How to pronounce constitutive (audio)
Synonyms of constitutivenext
1
: having the power to enact or establish : constructive
2
: constituent, essential
3
: relating to or dependent on constitution
a constitutive property of all electrolytes
constitutively adverb

Synonyms

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Examples of constitutive in a Sentence

the proposition that liberty and justice are constitutive elements of an enlightened society
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Art critic Eva Diaz, writing for ArtReview, says that Of the ‘creative’ pursuits, architecture is among the most dependent on big piles of capital in order to get its work off the ground: patronage is a constitutive yoke of the profession. — Matt Shaw, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025 Homoeroticism is of course constitutive of a great deal of classical statuary. — Richard Meyer, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of constitutive was in 1592

Rhymes for constitutive

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Browse Nearby Words

constitution mirror
constitutive
constitutum
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Cite this Entry

“Constitutive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constitutive. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

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Medical Definition

constitutive

adjective
con·​sti·​tu·​tive ˈkän(t)-stə-ˌt(y)üt-iv How to pronounce constitutive (audio) kən-ˈstich-ət-iv How to pronounce constitutive (audio)
1
a
: of, relating to, or being an enzyme or protein produced in relatively constant amounts in all cells of an organism without regard to cell environmental conditions (as the concentration of a substrate) compare inducible sense a
b
: controlling production of or coding genetic information for a constitutive enzyme or protein
constitutive genes
constitutive mutations
2
: being chromatin of a chromosomal region that is condensed into heterochromatin in all cells of an organism rather than just some
constitutively adverb
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