constituency

noun

con·​stit·​u·​en·​cy kən-ˈsti-chə-wən(t)-sē How to pronounce constituency (audio)
-ˈstich-, 
-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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But that claim is difficult to reconcile with the disproportionate representation of certain groups among those deleted from supplementary lists issued for some constituencies after an adjudication process. — Asim Ali, Time, 24 Oct. 2026 Alaska’s core constituency is composed of Natives, fishermen, rural legislators, and unions, with some chamber-of-commerce types mixed in. — Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026 Sunil Kumar, a senior election official in Kanchan's constituency of Chandi Chowk told NPR that his department was working to get Kanchan's community back onto voter lists. — Diaa Hadid, NPR, 21 Oct. 2026 Students and young women have always been a base constituency for Democrats. — Celinda Lake, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for constituency

Word History

Etymology

see constitute

First Known Use

1831, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of constituency was in 1831

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Constituency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constituency. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

constituency

noun
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
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

More from Merriam-Webster on constituency

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster