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Glite Dictionary
United States Constitution

United States Constitution

11 4.6
The highest law of the United States that sets the main rules for the national government
  • proper noun
  • /juːˈnaɪtɪd steɪts kənˈstɪtjuːʃən/
  • Formal
translation icon : Constitución de los Estados Unidos
  • The United States Constitution was signed in 1787 and serves as the foundation for American law.
  • amendment to the United States Constitution
  • Clause of the United States Constitution
  • United States Constitution prohibits

Donald Trump said that because he does not want a military that is loyal to the United States Constitution, he wants a military that is loyal to him.

Examples

  • Thank you for standing up for the United States Constitution and for all Americans.

    Blog text (15)

  • The 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution says all people must be treated equally under the law.

    On the Basis of Sex (2018)

  • The best place to turn for an answer is the United States Constitution.

    Blog text (16)

  • The United States Constitution has stood the test of time.

    Miss Sloane (2016)

  • What should a student in grade five know about the United States Constitution?

    Academic text (2002)

  • Congress just passed an Amendment to the United States Constitution.

    Free State of Jones (2016)

  • Governance is guaranteed under the United States Constitution.

    Academic text (2008)

  • Under the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution, state law must yield to federal law when the two conflict.

    Academic text (2009)

  • The Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution reserves this regulatory power strictly for the states.

    Academic text (2001)

  • Interestingly, the United States Constitution specifies minimum, not maximum, ages for election to federal office.

    Academic text (2002)

Synonyms

Constitution
vsUnited States Constitution
502 4.4

The main written rules that set how the United States government is organized and protect people's rights

refers to the founding text written in 1787 rather than the 1788 date
constitution
vsUnited States Constitution
  • Formal
484 5.1

A set of rules, often written, that shows how a country or organization is run

refers to the single founding written document rather than the broader governing system
Constitution of the United States
vsUnited States Constitution
31 3.0

A written document that sets the rules and structure of the United States government

is the national framework described more generally without ratification focus
U.S. Constitution
vsUnited States Constitution
  • Formal
26 3.3

The basic law of the United States that sets up the government and protects people's rights

focuses on the broader national framework rather than detailing functions and limits
US Constitution
vsUnited States Constitution
  • Formal
16 3.2

The basic law of the United States that sets up the federal government and protects citizens' rights

stresses the country's overall governing framework more than rights emphasis
fundamental law
vsUnited States Constitution
  • Formal
1 5.6

A set of basic rules that explains how a country's government works and what rights people have

applies specifically to the nation's 1787 founding document rather than any such law

Surface Forms

United States Constitution main

Morphology

united + state + Constitution

The phrase is compositional: 'United States' denotes the nation (a union of states) and 'Constitution' denotes the fundamental legal document, so a learner who knows these words can infer it refers to the nation’s founding law. This construction is cross-linguistically common and follows straightforward noun–noun naming patterns, making the meaning immediately accessible to B1 learners.

Etymology

United States Constitution is a written plan made in 1787; United States names the country and Constitution means the set of rules. It acts like a country's 'rule book' by saying how the government should work and what rights people have, so today it means the country's 'basic law'.