From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishconstitutioncon‧sti‧tu‧tion /ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuːʃən $ ˌkɑːnstɪˈtuː-/ ●●○ AWL noun [countable] 1 (also Constitution)PGSCL a set of basic laws and principles that a country or organization is governed by The right to speak freely is written into the Constitution of the United States.2 MHEALTHYyour health and your body’s ability to fight illness(have) a strong/good/weak etc constitution She’s got a strong constitution – she’ll recover in no time.3 formalCONSIST OF/BE MADE OF the parts or structure of somethingconstitution of What’s the chemical constitution of the dye?COLLOCATIONSadjectivesthe American/Russian etc constitutionthe 1993 Russian constitutiona written constitutionA written constitution forms the fundamental law of the nation.an unwritten constitution (=a constitution that is not formally written down as a separate document)Britain's unwritten constitution allows for flexibility when circumstances change.a draft constitution (=one that is not yet in its final form)By 1908 China had a draft constitution.a state constitutionThere was an amendment to Arizona’s state constitution.a federal constitution (=relating to a central government, not a state)Canada was granted a federal constitution in 1867.a democratic constitutionAndorra voted in favour of a new democratic constitution.verbsdraw up/draft a constitution (=write one)The American constitution was drafted in 1787.adopt/approve a constitution (=agree one and start to use it)In 1984, the South African government adopted a new constitution.amend/change the constitution (=make changes to it)Congress amended the constitution more than 300 times during 1992.violate the constitution (=do something that is against it)Such discrimination violates the constitution.suspend the constitution (=stop it from continuing, usually for a short time)The army suspended the constitution and formed a military government.a constitution requires somethingThe U.S. Constitution requires that a census be done every ten years.a constitution provides for something (=it says something must be done)Singapore's constitution provides for an elected president as head of state.a constitution allows somethingThe Constitution allows police to seize property used in a crime.a constitution forbids/prohibits somethingColombia's constitution forbids extradition.a constitution guarantees something (=says it must happen or exist)Hungary's constitution guarantees freedom of religion.phrasesan amendment to the constitution (=a change)the First Amendment to the American Constitutionthe principles of the constitution (=the ideas and aims that it is based on)the guiding legal principles of the constitutiona clause/provision in the constitution (=a rule or condition in it)The provision in the European constitution that limited women's roles in the military was found to be discriminatory.
Examples from the Corpus
constitution• Heinz suggested that laws and constitutions of countries should be strengthened to make international declarations against torture into enforceable law.• Of course, there were important continuities between the liberal constitution and the liberal-democratic constitution.• The new constitution was true to Rousseau.• Lorenz and Ardrey suggest, respectively, that aggression and territoriality form a deep-lying part of people's biological and psychic constitution.• With Aristide prevented by the constitution from standing again in 1996, the country was swamped by criminal and political violence.• The second section of the third article of the constitution defines the extent of the judicial power of the United States.• The constitution declares the existence of the state and it expresses the most important fundamental rules of the political system.(have) a strong/good/weak etc constitution• Except for the strongest constitutions, coastal walking, bird watching and easel painting are best reserved for milder seasons.• They are constructed with few weaknesses and have a sound, strong constitution.• What I do believe is that you don't get constitutional reform because you can have a better constitution.• I doubt, too, whether any other convention we can obtain may be able to make a better constitution.constitution of• the constitution of the committeeFrom Longman Business Dictionaryconstitutioncon‧sti‧tu‧tion /ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuːʃənˌkɑːnstɪˈtuː-/ noun [countable]1LAWthe system of basic laws and principles that a DEMOCRATIC country is governed by, which cannot easily be changed by the political party in powerThe First Amendment of the American Constitution guarantees freedom of speech.2COMMERCEthe system of rules and principles that an organization must followthe article giving general managerial powers to company directors which is found in the constitution of most companies3the way that something is formed, especially the people or parts that make it upThis change would fundamentally alter the constitution of the company. 