construction
The word evokes the image of assembly—whether it is physical materials like steel and concrete or abstract elements like words and legal clauses. It describes the act of putting pieces together to create a functional whole. In a physical sense, it carries a heavy, industrial connotation. While "building" is common and general, "construction" often suggests larger-scale projects, professional engineering, and formal planning. When applied to language or law, the nuance shifts from physical labor to intellectual precision. It refers to the structural logic of a sentence or the specific way a legal text is 'built' to convey a particular meaning, often implying a technical or academic context.
Uncountable when referring to the general industry or the act of building ('The road is under construction'). Countable when referring to a physical object that has been built ('a strange metal construction') or a specific arrangement of words ('a complex sentence construction').
💬Casual Conversation
I'm gonna be late. This road construction is an absolute joke.
JUST TAKE THE BACK WAY DEAR. LOVE GRANDMA
Meanings
The process of building or erecting something, such as a building, bridge, or road.
"The new stadium is currently under construction and will be completed next year."
An edifice or structure that has been built.
"The Eiffel Tower is a magnificent iron construction."
The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.
"The teacher corrected the awkward grammatical construction of the student's essay."