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

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.3 / 11 votes

1. institution, establishmentnoun

   an organization founded and united for a specific purpose

2. institutionnoun

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

3. institutionnoun

   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, instaurationnoun

   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, asylumnoun

   a hospital for mentally incompetent or unbalanced person

WiktionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 2 votes

1. institutionnoun

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

2. institutionnoun

   The building which houses such an organisation.

3. institutionnoun

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

4. institutionnoun

   A person long established with a certain place or position.

5. institutionnoun

   The act of instituting.

6. institutionnoun

   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.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Institutionnoun

   Etymology: institution, Fr. institutio, Latin.

   1. Act of establishing.2. Establishment; settlement.

   The institution of God's law is described as being established by solemn injunction. Richard Hooker.

   It became him by whom all things are, to be the way of salvation to all, that the institution and restitution of the world might be both wrought with one hand. Richard Hooker, b. v.

   This unlimited power placed fundamentally in the body of a people, is what legislators have endeavoured, in their several schemes or institutions of government, to deposit in such hands as would preserve the people. Jonathan Swift.

   3. Positive law.

   The holiness of the first fruits and the lump is an holiness, merely of institution, outward and nominal; whereas the holiness of the root is an holiness of nature, inherent and real. Francis Atterbury, Sermons.

   The law and institution founded by Moses was to establish religion, and to make mercy and peace known to the whole earth. Duncan Forbes.

   4. Education.

   After baptism, when it is in infancy received, succeeds instruction and institution in the nature and several branches of that vow, which was made at the font, in a short intelligible manner. Henry Hammond, Fundamentals.

   It is a necessary piece of providence in the institution of our children, to train them up to somewhat in their youth, that may honestly entertain them in their age. Roger L'Estrange.

   His learning was not the effect of precept or institution. Richard Bentley.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Institution

   Institutions are humanly devised structures of rules and norms that shape and constrain individual behavior. All definitions of institutions generally entail that there is a level of persistence and continuity. Laws, rules, social conventions and norms are all examples of institutions. Institutions vary in their level of formality and informality.Institutions are a principal object of study in social sciences such as political science, anthropology, economics, and sociology (the latter described by Émile Durkheim as the "science of institutions, their genesis and their functioning"). Primary or meta-institutions are institutions such as the family or money that are broad enough to encompass sets of related institutions. Institutions are also a central concern for law, the formal mechanism for political rule-making and enforcement. Historians study and document the founding, growth, decay and development of institutions as part of political, economic and cultural history.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. institution

   An institution refers to an established organization, typically with a specific purpose or function, that operates within a larger social, political, or economic system. It can be a formal organization such as a school, government, or bank, or an informal group with shared beliefs or customs, like a family or religious congregation. Institutions often have a set of rules, norms, and values that guide their operations and interactions, contributing to the stability and order of society.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

1. Institutionnoun

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

2. Institutionnoun

   instruction; education

3. Institutionnoun

   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

4. Institutionnoun

   that which instituted or established

5. Institutionnoun

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

6. Institutionnoun

   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

7. Institutionnoun

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

8. Institutionnoun

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

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

FreebaseRate this definition:4.1 / 10 votes

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 TermsRate this definition:3.5 / 2 votes

1. institution

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

Matched Categories

1. • Custom
   • Establishment

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

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

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. Henry Louis Mencken:

   Marriage is a wonderful institution, but who would want to live in an institution.

2. Cheryl Hyman:

   We've refocused from being an institution that was solely focused on access, to an institution that couples access with success, we have quantifiable, measurable goals to help students complete programs and move on to more school or a career.

3. 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.

4. Mae West:

   Marriage is a great institution, but I'm not ready for an institution yet.

5. Michael Ignatieff:

   This is an American institution, you would assume an American ambassador on post in a country would say, I got ta defend American institutions here... But somehow I think Ambassador David Cornstein in 2018 began to think,' Huh, this is a liberal institution, I'm closer to a conservative like Viktor Orban than I am to the ideals of this institution,' and what's disturbing about that, is that shouldn't be the issue.

Popularity rank by frequency of use