constitutionalist
|con-sti-tu-tion-al-ist|
🇺🇸
/ˌkɑn.stɪˈtuː.ʃə.nəl.ɪst/
🇬🇧
/ˌkɒn.stɪˈtjuː.ʃ(ə)n.əl.ɪst/
supporter or expert of the constitution
Etymology
'constitutionalist' originates from Modern English, specifically formed from the noun 'constitution' plus the agent suffix '-alist' (from French/Latin-derived suffixes) meaning 'one who advocates or is concerned with'.
'constitutionalist' developed from the noun 'constitution' (from Middle English 'constitucioun', Old French 'constitution', from Latin 'constitutio') combined with the suffix '-alist' (via French/Latin suffixes) to create a noun meaning 'one who supports or studies the constitution'.
Initially, the root 'constitution' referred to 'the act of constituting' or 'an established system' (from Latin), and over time the compound 'constitutionalist' came to mean specifically 'a supporter/advocate of constitutional government' or 'an expert in constitutional law'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who supports or defends a constitution or the principles of constitutional government (advocate of constitutionalism).
She is a noted constitutionalist who argues for strict limits on executive power.
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Noun 2
an expert or scholar in constitutional law or the constitution of a state (someone who studies or interprets constitutional provisions).
The conference brought together constitutionalists from several countries to compare judicial review systems.
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Last updated: 2025/10/22 19:36