institutionalize

verb

in·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al·​ize ˌin(t)-stə-ˈt(y)ü-sh(ə-)nə-ˌlīz How to pronounce institutionalize (audio)
institutionalized; institutionalizing

transitive verb

1
: to make into an institution : give character of an institution to
especially : to incorporate into a structured and often highly formalized system
… he has tried to institutionalize the bank's practices so that it can carry on when he no longer leads it. Bruce Shenitz
In 2005, The New York Times revealed a set of NSA surveillance programs that, though considered shocking at the time, have since been institutionalized. David Brown
2
: to place in or commit to the care of a specialized institution (such as a psychiatric hospital)
Thirty years ago doctors routinely advised parents to institutionalize children with Down syndrome and other disabilities …Parenting

Examples of institutionalize in a Sentence

It will take time to institutionalize these reforms. They had to institutionalize their youngest son. She was institutionalized for seven years.
Recent Examples on the Web Our four scenarios: Republican sweep: Trump, with a Republican House and Senate, would institutionalize the MAGA movement, with massive consequences for governance, civil rights and international relations. Axios, 23 Oct. 2024 Around the same time, his son Pablo started to show signs of schizophrenia; Pablo was institutionalized, eventually taking his own life in 1994. Carlos Valladares, ARTnews.com, 4 Oct. 2024 Merchant recommended trustees explore similar training approaches that help institutionalize a proactive approach to the innovation economy – emphasizing the value of data to drive decision-making. Shalin Jyotishi, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024 Two of my patients, Lillian G. and Tillie A., have been institutionalized for more than 35 years, and have not seen the outside world for more than ten years. Oliver Sacks, The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for institutionalize 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'institutionalize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of institutionalize was in 1865

Dictionary Entries Near institutionalize

Cite this Entry

“Institutionalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/institutionalize. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

institutionalize

verb
in·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al·​ize ˌin(t)-stə-ˈt(y)ü-shnə-ˌlīz How to pronounce institutionalize (audio)
-shən-ᵊl-ˌīz
institutionalized; institutionalizing
1
: to make into or treat like an institution
institutionalized housing
2
: to put into an institution

Medical Definition

institutionalize

transitive verb
in·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al·​ize
variants or chiefly British institutionalise
institutionalized or chiefly British institutionalised; institutionalizing or chiefly British institutionalising
: to place in or commit to the care of a specialized institution
Thirty years ago doctors routinely advised parents to institutionalize children with Down syndrome and other disabilities …Parenting
institutionalization noun
or chiefly British institutionalisation

Legal Definition

institutionalize

transitive verb
in·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al·​ize ˌin-stə-ˈtü-shə-nə-ˌlīz, -ˈtyü- How to pronounce institutionalize (audio)
institutionalized; institutionalizing
: to put in the care of an institution compare commit

More from Merriam-Webster on institutionalize

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