established

adjective

es·​tab·​lished i-ˈsta-blisht 

1

: accepted and recognized or followed by many people

established rules/customs/traditions

2

a

: successful for a long period of time and widely known

an established author/artist

an established law firm

… people with Ph.D.s have been credentialed by established experts in their fields

—Louis Menand

b

: growing or flourishing successfully

an established plant

an established flower garden

3

of a church or religion : officially recognized and accepted by the government of a country

Some of the religious groups lasted, but at a price. Their dogma hardened, and they developed organizational structures that are mirror images of established churches.

—O. B. Hardison, Jr.

Examples of established in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For established professionals, the possibility that age could influence decisions about hiring, promotion or workplace treatment raises serious concerns about fairness and opportunity. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025

As one of the most established skydiving centers in the country, this is a great place to finally check off that bucket list item. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2025

That tantalizing possibility just isn’t as likely at an established brand. —Dave Smith, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025

They are focused on building and reinforcing containment lines, extinguishing hot spots and preventing smoldering materials from rolling beyond established perimeters. —The Press Democrat, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing established

• established church
• established order
• pre-established

Rhymes for established

• disestablished
• preestablished
• reestablished
• stablished