unwritten constitution
noun
: a constitution not embodied in a single document but based chiefly on custom and precedent as expressed in statutes and judicial decisions
Examples of unwritten constitution in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The divorce brought to power Boris Johnson, who tested Britain’s unwritten constitution.
—
Jill Lawless,
The Christian Science Monitor,
26 Dec. 2023
But there is a greater imperative even than Charles' adherence to Britain's unwritten constitution.
—
Joseph Romm,
CNN,
16 Sep. 2022
Nineteenth-century Britons celebrated their unwritten constitution.
—
Jill Lepore,
The New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2021
Until the American Revolution, most free countries in the world preferred an unwritten constitution of customs and norms established over time.
—
Cameron Hilditch,
National Review,
26 Nov. 2020
Britain’s unwritten constitution does not have a clear rule for what happens if a prime minister becomes incapacitated or dies.
—
Danica Kirka,
Anchorage Daily News,
7 Apr. 2020
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Jill Lawless,
The Christian Science Monitor,
26 Dec. 2023
But there is a greater imperative even than Charles' adherence to Britain's unwritten constitution.
—
Joseph Romm,
CNN,
16 Sep. 2022
Nineteenth-century Britons celebrated their unwritten constitution.
—
Jill Lepore,
The New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2021
Until the American Revolution, most free countries in the world preferred an unwritten constitution of customs and norms established over time.
—
Cameron Hilditch,
National Review,
26 Nov. 2020
Britain’s unwritten constitution does not have a clear rule for what happens if a prime minister becomes incapacitated or dies.
—
Danica Kirka,
Anchorage Daily News,
7 Apr. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Unwritten constitution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unwritten%20constitution. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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