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

Intel, the established designer and manufacturer of microprocessors, experienced a significant rise in its stock on January 28, 2026, driven by high trading volume. —Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026

Several of those brands have also descended on Paris this week and in recent seasons, highlighting how the fashion calendar has become a battleground for attention outside of established houses. —Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 22 Jan. 2026

Steph Chambers / Getty Images The most fascinating thing about the Tarik Skubal arbitration case is that both sides think the other is trying to break established norms. —Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026

This will allow established unions to contact potential members after a union has been certified. —Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 31 Dec. 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