institutionalize

verb

in·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al·​ize ˌin(t)-stə-ˈt(y)ü-sh(ə-)nə-ˌlīz How to pronounce institutionalize (audio)
institutionalized; institutionalizing

transitive verb

1
: to make into an institution : give character of an institution to
especially : to incorporate into a structured and often highly formalized system
… he has tried to institutionalize the bank's practices so that it can carry on when he no longer leads it. Bruce Shenitz
In 2005, The New York Times revealed a set of NSA surveillance programs that, though considered shocking at the time, have since been institutionalized. David Brown
2
: to place in or commit to the care of a specialized institution (such as a psychiatric hospital)
Thirty years ago doctors routinely advised parents to institutionalize children with Down syndrome and other disabilities …Parenting

Examples of institutionalize in a Sentence

It will take time to institutionalize these reforms. They had to institutionalize their youngest son. She was institutionalized for seven years.
Recent Examples on the Web It’s estimated that between 1922, when the Irish Free State was established, and 1996, when the last of the laundries was closed, more than 10,000 women were institutionalized and forced into unpaid labor. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2024 The script focuses on how corporate structures in America have institutionalized Black employees to act in service of and uplift their white employees. Zack Sharf, Variety, 20 Jan. 2024 Cities institutionalize neocolonial segregation, with those of immigrant origin banished to dreary suburbs, hemmed in by brutal police and overseen by corrupt officials. Nabila Ramdani, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 What happens when those alternatives and their costs become institutionalized? Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2024 Her mother suffered from mental illness and was eventually institutionalized, leaving Bow prey to her abusive father. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 6 Feb. 2024 Hyams, a cigar-maker in Whitechapel, was first institutionalized in 1889 — some seven weeks following the fifth and final murder — for assaulting his wife and his mother with a knife. Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 18 Jan. 2024 The president and his guests sought to institutionalize their new collaboration by committing to annual three-way meetings in the future by whoever holds their offices. Zolan Kanno-Youngs, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2023 But importantly, the gains must then be institutionalized in ways that permanently redistribute power towards workers, consumers, and the environment. Deepak Bhargava, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'institutionalize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of institutionalize was in 1865

Dictionary Entries Near institutionalize

Cite this Entry

“Institutionalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/institutionalize. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

institutionalize

verb
in·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al·​ize ˌin(t)-stə-ˈt(y)ü-shnə-ˌlīz How to pronounce institutionalize (audio)
-shən-ᵊl-ˌīz
institutionalized; institutionalizing
1
: to make into or treat like an institution
institutionalized housing
2
: to put into an institution

Medical Definition

institutionalize

transitive verb
in·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al·​ize
variants or chiefly British institutionalise
institutionalized or chiefly British institutionalised; institutionalizing or chiefly British institutionalising
: to place in or commit to the care of a specialized institution
Thirty years ago doctors routinely advised parents to institutionalize children with Down syndrome and other disabilities …Parenting
institutionalization noun
or chiefly British institutionalisation

Legal Definition

institutionalize

transitive verb
in·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al·​ize ˌin-stə-ˈtü-shə-nə-ˌlīz, -ˈtyü- How to pronounce institutionalize (audio)
institutionalized; institutionalizing
: to put in the care of an institution compare commit

More from Merriam-Webster on institutionalize

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