Definition of CONSTITUENCY (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 Over the last three months, Trump has rolled out a steady drumbeat of politically beneficial tax cut plans focused key election constituencies. —Eliyahu Kamisher, Fortune, 13 Sep. 2024 Rather, Proposition 4 is divided into eight different spending categories — which are in turn each subdivided into about five to 25 spending allocations — designed to placate political constituencies rather than ensure efficient and effective allocation of precious funds. —Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial, The Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2024 Yet they are expected to act with honesty of purpose, and only after careful consideration of the interests and reputation of the organization, its purpose and its constituency. —Michael Peregrine, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024 None of this, of course, is a sign that Harris has the youth vote locked, or has reclaimed an internet constituency that had grown bored with Biden. —Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 26 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for constituency 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'constituency.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 19 Sep. 2024.
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Last Updated: 17 Sep 2024 - Updated example sentences
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