constitute

The word “constitute” means to make up or form something when combined with other parts. In plain terms, to make up or count as something, or to formally set something up.

“Constitute” is pronounced KONS-tiht-yoot (/ˈkɑnstɪt(j)uːt/ in IPA).

Here is “constitute” used in a sentence: “Three strikes constitute an out in baseball.”

Words with a similar meaning to “constitute” include compose and form.

“Constitute” is a verb.

The word “constitute” comes from Latin. From Latin constituere, "to set up, establish," from con- ("together") + statuere ("to set up").

“Constitute” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Constitute” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make up or form something when combined with other parts.

Establish means to formally set something up, while constitute has two senses: it can mean to formally establish a law, body, or authority, similar to establish, but it can also mean to make up or form something when combined with other parts, a sense establish does not share. Constitute is used more often for describing what elements together add up to.

Constitute is the base form of the verb, while constitutes is the third-person singular present tense form used with a singular subject, as in "this constitutes a breach." Both describe the same action of making up or forming something.

Constitute and compose can both describe parts making up a whole, but constitute is often used when stating that something counts as or amounts to a particular category, as in "this constitutes fraud," while compose more literally describes physical or structural parts forming a whole. Constitute also carries the additional, distinct sense of formally establishing a law or authority, which compose does not.