constipation
C1Formal to informal, but primarily technical/medical in core meaning.
Definition
Meaning
A condition in which a person has infrequent, difficult, or incomplete bowel movements.
A state of inactivity, blockage, or obstruction preventing free movement, flow, or progress in a non-medical context (e.g., intellectual or bureaucratic constipation).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The core meaning is a specific medical/physiological condition. The extended, figurative meaning is less common and often used for stylistic effect.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. The term is standard in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally neutral/medical in both, though potentially a slightly taboo or embarrassing topic in casual conversation.
Frequency
Equally common in medical contexts. The term 'constipated' (adj.) may be slightly more frequent in everyday UK speech than in US.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
suffer from ~relieve ~cause ~treat ~be a remedy for ~lead to ~Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[no common idioms; the word itself is sometimes used figuratively as in 'bureaucratic constipation']”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Figuratively: 'The constipation in the supply chain delayed all shipments.'
Academic
Common in medical, biological, and pharmacological literature.
Everyday
Common in health discussions. Often replaced by euphemisms like 'irregular' or 'blocked up'.
Technical
Standard term in medical diagnosis, nursing, and pharmacology.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The medication can constipate some patients.
- Eating too much cheese might constipate you.
American English
- This formula tends to constipate infants.
- Painkillers often constipate people.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form; 'constipatingly' is extremely rare and non-standard]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form]
adjective
British English
- He felt terribly constipated after the journey.
- A constipated feeling plagued her for days.
American English
- She was constipated from the new medication.
- The constipated patient needed a laxative.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Eating fruit helps with constipation.
- The doctor asked about constipation.
- Some medicines can cause constipation as a side effect.
- He suffers from occasional constipation.
- Chronic constipation can be a symptom of other health issues.
- The report highlighted the bureaucratic constipation slowing down the approval process.
- The pharmacological study compared the efficacy of various agents in alleviating idiopathic constipation.
- The committee's progress was halted by a kind of intellectual constipation, an inability to generate new ideas.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CONSTIPATION: CONStant SToppage In the PATient's Intestines, Obstructing Normal flow.
Conceptual Metaphor
BLOCKAGE IS CONSTIPATION (e.g., 'constipated traffic', 'constipated creativity').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'констатировать' (to state/establish).
- The Russian medical term 'запор' is a direct equivalent.
- Avoid using 'constipation' to mean a cold/flu (простуда).
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'constapation' or 'constipation'.
- Using 'constipation' to describe any stomach ache.
- Incorrect verb use: 'I constipation' instead of 'I am constipated' or 'I have constipation'.
Practice
Quiz
In a figurative sense, 'constipation' can refer to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a symptom or condition, not a disease itself. It can be caused by various factors including diet, medication, or underlying disorders.
Obstipation is a more severe, often complete form of constipation where passage of both stool and gas is blocked, typically requiring medical intervention.
Yes, informally and figuratively. E.g., 'He's so constipated' can mean he is uptight, overly reserved, or unable to express himself freely.
Diarrhoea (UK)/Diarrhea (US). They represent opposite extremes of bowel motility.
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