construction
kuhn-STRUHK-shuhn
Construction (noun) means the process or business of building something, especially buildings and infrastructure. Example: “Construction of the new bridge caused delays on the road all summer.”
noun
1
The process or business of building something, especially buildings and infrastructure.
"Construction of the new bridge caused delays on the road all summer."
"The new highway is still under construction."
"He works in construction as a site foreman."
2
The way something is built, structured, or put together, including sentences and arguments.
"The sturdy construction of the old chair means it will last for years."
"The clumsy construction of his argument made it hard for the audience to follow."
"The sentence has an unusual grammatical construction."
How to use construction
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBuilding something, or the way something (including a sentence) is put together.
Common pairings
under construction
construction site
grammatical construction
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Word forms
- Plural
- constructions
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_____ of the new bridge caused delays on the road all summer.
Etymology
From Latin constructio, from construere ("to build"). Equivalent to construct + -ion.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
misconstruction
destruction
Related words
Rhymes for construction
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for construction →
Frequently asked questions
What does “construction” mean?
The word “construction” means the process or business of building something, especially buildings and infrastructure. In plain terms, building something, or the way something (including a sentence) is put together.
How do you pronounce “construction”?
“Construction” is pronounced kuhn-STRUHK-shuhn (/kənˈstɹʌkʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “construction” in a sentence?
Here is “construction” used in a sentence: “The new highway is still under construction.”
What is another word for “construction”?
Words with a similar meaning to “construction” include building and construal.
What is the opposite of “construction”?
The opposite of “construction” — its antonyms — is destruction.
What part of speech is “construction”?
“Construction” is a noun.
Where does the word “construction” come from?
The word “construction” comes from Latin. From Latin constructio, from construere ("to build"). Equivalent to construct + -ion.
Is “construction” a common word?
“Construction” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between construction and building?
'Construction' is the wider term for the whole process and industry of putting structures together, including roads, bridges and tunnels as well as houses. 'Building' can mean the same activity but usually centres on structures with walls and roofs, and it doubles as a noun for the finished structure itself.
What are the main types of construction?
The industry is usually split into residential construction (homes and flats), commercial construction (offices, shops and hotels), industrial construction (factories and plants), and infrastructure or civil construction (roads, bridges, railways and utilities). Each type has its own methods, regulations and specialist contractors.
Why is the construction industry important?
Construction builds the homes people live in, the workplaces they earn in, and the roads, hospitals and networks that connect everything. It is one of the largest employers in most economies and a key driver of growth, since building activity tends to rise and fall with a country's overall prosperity.
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