An individual member of a constituency; a component part of something larger. Can refer to both voters who elect representatives and essential parts that make up a whole.
From Latin 'constituens' meaning 'setting up, establishing,' from the same root as constituency. The sense of 'component part' developed from the idea of elements that establish or make up something larger.
Remember: constituency is the whole pizza, constituent is each individual slice! Both words share 'constitute' - constituents constitute (make up) the constituency.
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