French Conversation · Level 40
75 words
French word
constitution
Pronunciation
IPA/kɔ̃stitysjɔ̃/
Meaning
- feminine nounconstitution
Example
La constitution garantit les droits fondamentaux des citoyens.
The constitution guarantees the fundamental rights of citizens.
More examples
La cour a jugé qu'une loi ne se conforme pas à la constitution.
The court ruled that a law does not comply with the constitution.
Core concept
An architecture of governing rules that holds a country's institutions and citizens' rights together.
Common phrases
se conformer à la constitution
comply with the constitution
respecter la constitution
respect the constitution
Similar words
loi: A law passed by the legislature that establishes specific rules for society.
texte: A written document or its content, such as a law or official provision.
parlement: A legislative body of representatives that debates and passes laws.
Definition in French
Texte ou ensemble de principes fondamentaux qui définissent l'organisation politique d'un pays et garantissent les droits des citoyens.
Word origin
The French noun constitution continues Latin constitutio, a term for an act of establishing, from constituere, 'to establish', and applies this idea to a state's basic order.
Usage tips
- French constitution can also refer to physical makeup, so political context or a modifier such as constitution politique identifies the legal sense.
Other meanings
- makeupnoun
- structurenoun
Opposites
- anarchieanarchynoun
Related words
- constitutionnelconstitutionaladjective
- constitutionnellementconstitutionallyadverb