Definitions for institution
ˌɪn stɪˈtu ʃən, -ˈtyu-in·sti·tu·tion

Princeton's WordNet(3.27 / 11 votes)Rate this definition:

1. institution, establishment(noun)

   an organization founded and united for a specific purpose

2. institution(noun)

   an establishment consisting of a building or complex of buildings where an organization for the promotion of some cause is situated

3. institution(noun)

   a custom that for a long time has been an important feature of some group or society

   "the institution of marriage"; "the institution of slavery"; "he had become an institution in the theater"

4. initiation, founding, foundation, institution, origination, creation, innovation, introduction, instauration(noun)

   the act of starting something for the first time; introducing something new

   "she looked forward to her initiation as an adult"; "the foundation of a new scientific society"

5. mental hospital, psychiatric hospital, mental institution, institution, mental home, insane asylum, asylum(noun)

   a hospital for mentally incompetent or unbalanced person

Wiktionary(5.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. institution(Noun)

   An established organisation, especially one dedicated to education, public service, culture or the care of the destitute, poor etc.

2. institution(Noun)

   The building which houses such an organisation.

3. institution(Noun)

   A custom or practice of a society or community - marriage for example.

4. institution(Noun)

   A person long established with a certain place or position.

5. institution(Noun)

   The act of instituting.

6. institution(Noun)

   That which institutes or instructs; a textbook or system of elements or rules.

   There is another manuscript, of above three hundred years old, being an institution of physic. uE000140392uE001 Evelyn.

Webster Dictionary(3.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Institution(noun)

   the act or process of instituting; as: (a) Establishment; foundation; enactment; as, the institution of a school

   Etymology: [L. institutio: cf. F. institution.]

2. Institution(noun)

   instruction; education

   Etymology: [L. institutio: cf. F. institution.]

3. Institution(noun)

   the act or ceremony of investing a clergyman with the spiritual part of a benefice, by which the care of souls is committed to his charge

   Etymology: [L. institutio: cf. F. institution.]

4. Institution(noun)

   that which instituted or established

   Etymology: [L. institutio: cf. F. institution.]

5. Institution(noun)

   established order, method, or custom; enactment; ordinance; permanent form of law or polity

   Etymology: [L. institutio: cf. F. institution.]

6. Institution(noun)

   an established or organized society or corporation; an establishment, especially of a public character, or affecting a community; a foundation; as, a literary institution; a charitable institution; also, a building or the buildings occupied or used by such organization; as, the Smithsonian Institution

   Etymology: [L. institutio: cf. F. institution.]

7. Institution(noun)

   anything forming a characteristic and persistent feature in social or national life or habits

   Etymology: [L. institutio: cf. F. institution.]

8. Institution(noun)

   that which institutes or instructs; a textbook; a system of elements or rules; an institute

   Etymology: [L. institutio: cf. F. institution.]

Freebase(4.09 / 10 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Institution

   An institution is any structure or mechanism of social order and cooperation governing the behaviour of a set of individuals within a given community — may it be human or a specific animal one. Institutions are identified with a social purpose, transcending individuals and intentions by mediating the rules that govern cooperative living behavior. The term "institution" is commonly applied to customs and behavior patterns important to a society, as well as to particular formal organizations of government and public services. As structures and mechanisms of social order among certain species, institutions are one of the principal objects of study in the social sciences, such as political science, anthropology, economics, and sociology. Institutions are also a central concern for law, the formal mechanism for political rule-making and enforcement.

Dictionary of Nautical Terms(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. institution

   An establishment founded partly with a view to instruction; as the Royal United Service Institution in London.

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'institution' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2053

2. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'institution' in Nouns Frequency: #386

How to pronounce institution?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say institution in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of institution in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of institution in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of institution in a Sentence

1. James Fallarino:

   He represents the institution, and the institution and their violence against our community is one of the reasons why Pride exists, it's really important that the institution take responsibility for what happened.

2. Joseph Curley:

   This isn’t playtime for Florida Atlantic University, they’ve been accused of violating the First Amendment. That’s a serious charge for a public institution.

3. Christopher Wray:

   Thank you for standing strong together, and for keeping your faith in this institution that means so much to all of us.

4. Carly Fiorina:

   Throughout the millennia and in every religion in the world, marriage has a very specific meaning. Marriage is an institution, grounded in spirituality. It is the union of a man and a woman, and from that union comes life, and life is a gift from God, now that this decision has come down, I think we need to focus all of our energies on ensuring that we protect the religious liberties and the freedom of conscience of those who profoundly disagree with this decision.

5. Libya Bernardino Leon:

   I do not think it makes sense for any institution that wants to play a relevant role in Libya not to bring names.

Images & Illustrations of institution

Popularity rank by frequency of use