constituent

Everyday

1. A constituent is one of the parts that make up a whole: «Flour is a constituent of bread.» tree →
2. A constituent is a person who lives in an area and votes for a representative such as a Member of Parliament or a congressman. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons a mixture's constituents are the substances in it. In citizenship lessons constituents are the voters of an area. Phrases: «constituent parts», «the constituents of».

Examples

• Oxygen is a constituent of air. tree →
• Separate the mixture into its constituent parts. tree →
• The MP replied to letters from her constituents. tree →
• Sand and water are the constituents of this mixture. tree →
• Each constituent of the cake adds something. tree →
• Ten per cent of the mixture is salt; what is the other constituent's share? tree →

Note

Formal. Countable. Similar: component, part, ingredient. The area is a «constituency» (UK).