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

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

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

Wiktionary(5.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

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 Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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.

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

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.]

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(3.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

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. Margaret Mead:

   The institution of marriage in all societies is a pattern within which the strains put by civilization on males and females alike must be resolved, a pattern within which men must learn, in return for a variety of elaborate rewards, new forms in which sexual spontaneity is still possible, and women must learn to discipline their receptivity to a thousand other considerations.

2. Colorado Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet:

   This institution is broken, more than 50 % of the senators have said what The President did was wrong. If that is your view, I don't see how you can possibly vote for evidence. I don't know how we move on because this is part of a pattern of the Senate destroying itself under Mitch McConnell's leadership.

3. Douglas Bradburn:

   Washington lives through an era in which the birth of ideas about human freedom are actually more like ours today than they were when he grew up, and you know he's part of that revolution. ... It is very clear he comes to reject the institution of slavery as a good thing, both economically but also morally.

4. Lindsey Graham:

   I appreciate Justice Breyer’s service to our nation, he has always been a scholar and a gentleman whose record on the Supreme Court is solidly in the liberal camp. Justice Breyer has always shown great respect for the institution and his colleagues, and I wish him well in the next phase of his life.

5. John Olson:

   Our goal is to make art and photography available to the world's blind population, there are 285 million blind and sight impaired world-wide. One person goes blind in the U.S. every 11 minutes. So our goal is to make this available at every museum, every science center, every institution, first in this country and then beyond.

Popularity rank by frequency of use