constituency

noun

con·​stit·​u·​en·​cy kən-ˈstich-wən(t)-sē 

-ˈsti-chə-,

-ˈsti-chü-ən(t)-

plural constituencies

1

a

: a body of citizens entitled to elect a representative (as to a legislative or executive position)

the governor's liberal constituency

b

: the residents in an electoral district

The senator's constituency includes a large minority population.

c

: an electoral district

2

a

: a group or body that patronizes, supports, or offers representation

creating … a grass-roots constituency for continuing the project

—Fred Reed

b

: the people involved in or served by an organization (such as a business or institution)

… regards its corporate customers as its prime constituency.

—Andrew Hacker

Examples of constituency in a Sentence

The senator's constituency includes a large minority population.

He was elected to represent a Liverpool constituency.

Recent Examples on the Web

Basic policy shibboleths, such as the efficacy of vaccines, are being questioned by all sorts of constituencies; once-predictable public-opinion trend lines—regarding feminism, LGBTQ rights, democracy itself—are going wobbly. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2025

In other countries where RCV is the norm, parties assemble slates of candidates to appeal to different constituencies and knit together a winning coalition. —Jasmine Gripper, New York Daily News, 17 Jan. 2025

For them, Erdogan was importing a constituency that would be loyal to him. —Alia Malek, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025

Still, Malliotakis urged her colleagues to stay mindful that each member represents a different constituency and political reality, making compromise necessary. —Forbestv, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see constitute

First Known Use

1831, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing constituency

• multimember constituency
• single-member constituency

Kids Definition

constituency

noun

con·​stit·​u·​en·​cy kən-ˈstich-(ə-)wən-sē 

plural constituencies

1

: a body of citizens having the right to elect a representative to a legislature

2

: the people living in an electoral district

3

: an electoral district

Legal Definition

constituency

noun

con·​stit·​u·​en·​cy kən-ˈsti-chə-wən-sē 

plural constituencies

1

: a body of citizens entitled to elect a representative (as to a legislative or executive office)

2

: the residents in an electoral district

3

: an electoral district