constitute
verb
con·sti·tute
ˈkän(t)-stə-ˌtüt 
-ˌtyüt
constituted; constituting
1
2
3
: to appoint to an office, function, or dignity
Legal authority constitutes all magistrates.
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
In other words, for an act to constitute a war crime, there must be intent to commit the violation—an element entirely absent in this case.
—
Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Apr. 2025
There’s debate, however, over whether criticism of Zionism, the promotion of a Jewish state, constitutes antisemitism.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 22 Apr. 2025
This informational and educational article does not offer or constitute, and should not be relied upon as, tax or financial advice.
—Cicely Jones, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Asian states will worry that China might decide—much as Russia has done since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022—that some countries are more sovereign than others and that the domestic actions and preferences of neighboring states can somehow constitute a violation of sovereignty.
—Rana Mitter, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for constitute
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Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Apr. 2025
There’s debate, however, over whether criticism of Zionism, the promotion of a Jewish state, constitutes antisemitism.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 22 Apr. 2025
This informational and educational article does not offer or constitute, and should not be relied upon as, tax or financial advice.
—Cicely Jones, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Asian states will worry that China might decide—much as Russia has done since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022—that some countries are more sovereign than others and that the domestic actions and preferences of neighboring states can somehow constitute a violation of sovereignty.
—Rana Mitter, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for constitute
Cite this Entry
“Constitute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constitute. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
Louisiana Civil Codelegal authority constitutes all magistrates
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.
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
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