constitute

verb

con·​sti·​tute ˈkän(t)-stə-ˌtüt 

-ˌtyüt

constituted; constituting

transitive verb

1

: make up, form, compose

12 months constitute a year.

… high school dropouts who constitute a major problem in large city slums.

—J. B. Conant

2

: set up, establish: such as

a

: enact

regulations as are constituted by the government

b

: found

constitute a provisional government

c(1)

: to give due or lawful form to

an agreement constituted by writing

(2)

: to legally process

3

: to appoint to an office, function, or dignity

Legal authority constitutes all magistrates.

Synonyms

• compose
• comprise
• form
• make up

Examples of constitute in a Sentence

Women constitute 70 percent of the student population at the college.

nine players constitute a baseball team

Recent Examples on the Web

Acceptance of a prize constitutes permission for Sponsor and its agencies to use a winner’s name and/or likeness, biographical information, and entry materials for advertising and promotional purposes without additional compensation, unless prohibited by law. —Time For Kids, TIME, 21 Feb. 2025

Unlike the single-state USSR largely led centrally by Moscow, the EU constitutes a supranational entity consisting of independent nations that adhere to a common set of laws drawn up and approved by participating representatives of member states. —Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025

As a basic rule, executive orders constitute mandatory legal requirements. —Blake D. Morant, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025

Listen to this article America is currently at war with itself over who constitutes the haves and have-nots, and what ethnic groups have faced the most discrimination. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin constitutus, past participle of constituere to set up, constitute, from com- + statuere to set — more at statute

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Kids Definition

constitute

verb

con·​sti·​tute ˈkän(t)-stə-ˌt(y)üt 

constituted; constituting

1

: to appoint to an office or duty

constituted authorities

2

: set up sense 4, establish

a fund was constituted to help needy students

3

: make up sense 2, form

twelve months constitute a year

Legal Definition

constitute

transitive verb

con·​sti·​tute ˈkän-stə-ˌtüt, -ˌtyüt 

1

: to appoint to an office or function

those who are constituted heirs or named legatees

—Louisiana Civil Code

legal authority constitutes all magistrates

2

: establish, found

to constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court

—U.S. Constitution art. I

3

a

: to put (as an agreement) into required form

b

: to qualify as

a letter can constitute a will

—W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.

failure to act may constitute negligence

c

: to form the substance or whole of

the bonds constituted the entire estate