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

The study will examine whether the system could allow survivors to discreetly communicate with law enforcement using pre-established codes or phrases when making a phone call is not safe. — Steve Maugeri, CBS News, 14 July 2026

Under the deal, Espotlight will receive a first look at Spanish-language stories published on Wattpad, giving the production company access to a pipeline of digital-native IP with established readerships. — Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 14 July 2026

Evidence supporting their use remains limited compared with more established cooling strategies. — Alan McCall, New York Times, 11 July 2026

Tax Defense Network at a glance Tax Defense Network has been an established player in the tax resolution industry for nearly two decades. — Nick Perry, USA Today, 6 July 2026

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