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

There was a time, not so long ago, when Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle also had players in that position who had a supportive constituency eager to press their claims as the best in the league. —Rory Smith, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025

There’s no alternative constituency in America to which Netanyahu can appeal. —Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2025

Erdogan’s constituency was also not happy with Syrians. —Alia Malek, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025

When seeking solutions beyond government, Democrats and Republicans alike have turned to markets—a decades-long preference for neoliberalism over civic populism that has eroded their standing among once reliable constituencies. —Harry Boyte and Trygve Throntveit, TIME, 4 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