WordGarden.ioconstitutively
C2Pronunciation
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- /kˈɑːnstɪtˌuːtɪvli/
Meanings
Adverb
in a continuously active or expressed biological state
as an inherent or defining part of something
Beyond the definition
Imagine building with LEGO bricks. Some bricks are just there, acting as the base structure—they're essential to how the whole thing is built, not added on as an afterthought. That is what "constitutively" means! It describes something that exists as a fundamental part of something else, inherent in its very nature. A robin is constitutively different from a penguin; those differences are baked into their biology, not just a temporary state.
Think of it like this: you can choose to be happy today, but your brain might be constitutively wired for certain emotional patterns. It's about what something is at its core. In science, you might hear that a particular protein is "constitutively expressed" in cells—this means the cell produces that protein all the time as part of its basic function, rather than only making it when triggered by an outside signal.
"Constitutively" is an adverb that describes something occurring as an inherent or essential characteristic. It signifies that a trait or process happens by its very nature, rather than being prompted by external influences or individual choices. It is a formal term frequently employed in scientific, philosophical, and legal contexts.
In biology, the word is a vital technical term. A plant that is constitutively resistant to a disease possesses that resistance as a built-in part of its genetic makeup; it doesn't need to be "turned on" by exposure to a pathogen. This stands in contrast to "inducible" traits, which only appear when needed.
In legal and philosophical terms, "constitutively" refers to the way something is established or composed. For example, a group of people might be constitutively bound by a shared history, meaning that history is what actually forms them into a unified group. While it sounds similar to "constitutionally," which relates to a written constitution, "constitutively" focuses more on the act of formation and the essential elements that make a thing what it is.
It is important to distinguish "constitutively" from simply having a trait. A car might be painted red, but that is an added feature, not part of what makes it a car. By contrast, something that is constitutively true is true because of how the thing is made or defined—it's part of what holds it together as the kind of thing it is. When you want to emphasize that a feature is "built in," not optional or switched on only in certain situations, "constitutively" is the right word to use.
Examples
- 1
Mutant receptor
In this mutant strain, the receptor is constitutively active, even when no signal is present.
- Phraseconstitutively active
active all the time, not only when triggered
- 2
Gene expression
This gene is constitutively expressed in the liver, so the cells keep making the same protein.
- Phraseconstitutively expressed
made continuously, not only under certain conditions
- 3
Plant defenses
Some plant defenses are present constitutively, while others appear only after the plant is attacked.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- structurally
- by definition
Contrast
- contingently
- extrinsically
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- constitutively expressed
- constitutively active
- constitutively related to
Word family
Explore
- essential property
- necessary condition
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- constitutivelyadverb