Constructivism is a much abused word. But since Ian Hacking has done a review of some of his meanings, an effort is made to see how it can be rescued from the disrepute of 'social constructivism'. Special stress is put on the metaphors of construction and on the models of action implied by its construction and on the models of action implied by its different meanings. An alternative is offered to the classification offered by Hacking and a strong contrast is established between construction and deconstruction.