Definition of CONSTITUENCIES (original) (raw)
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.
Advocates like Mathers don’t believe those constituencies will go away just because of an administration change—meaning the pressure to build out the charging network will stay on. —Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 23 Dec. 2024 This was particularly true for games, and people who build their own gaming PCs are a key constituency for these kinds of brand-new high-end chips. —Ars Technica, 19 Dec. 2024 Beer lover downs a pint to protest British pub tax Jay Chan, a former staffer for a member of Parliament, is protesting a tax on food and beverages at pubs in the United Kingdom by downing a pint in all 650 parliamentary constituencies. —Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 15 Dec. 2024 After dozens of governing party lawmakers joined the opposition to impeach President Park Geun-hye in 2016 on charges of corruption and abuse of power, they were branded as traitors in their conservative constituencies. —Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for constituency 
Word History
First Known Use
1831, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of constituency was in 1831
Dictionary Entries Near constituency
Cite this Entry
“Constituency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constituency. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
Share
More from Merriam-Webster on constituency
Last Updated: 30 Dec 2024 - Updated example sentences
Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!