constitutionalism

noun

con·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al·​ism ˌkän(t)-stə-ˈtü-sh(ə-)nə-ˌli-zəm How to pronounce constitutionalism (audio)
-tyü-
: adherence to or government according to constitutional principles
also : a constitutional system of government
constitutionalist noun

Examples of constitutionalism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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But in another meaningful way, too, Claude’s Constitution—its very existence—is a product of the larger crisis of constitutionalism in the United States. Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2026 There’s a real, consistent history and commitment to constitutionalism and desire for democracy in Iran that didn’t necessarily exist in Iraq or Afghanistan, but building institutions and creating consensus and identifying leaders is a very, very hard job. ABC News, 15 Mar. 2026 So the same establishment that had once helped push a Qajar shah toward constitutionalism helped pull a Pahlavi shah back from exile and back into absolutism. Bobby Ghosh, Time, 5 Mar. 2026 Congress’s constitutionalism carries advantages over the Court’s. Duncan Hosie, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for constitutionalism

Word History

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of constitutionalism was in 1832

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Cite this Entry

“Constitutionalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constitutionalism. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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