deinstitutionalization

noun

de·​in·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al·​i·​za·​tion (ˌ)dē-ˌin(t)-stə-ˌtü-shə-nə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

-ˌtyü-

1

: the release of institutionalized individuals from institutional care (as in a psychiatric hospital) to care in the community

2

: the reform or modification of an institution to remove or disguise its institutional character

deinstitutionalize

(ˌ)dē-ˌin(t)-stə-ˈtü-shə-nə-ˌlīz 

-ˈtyü-

transitive verb

Examples of deinstitutionalization in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The era’s deinstitutionalization policies toward the mentally ill led to the release of many former patients of psychiatric hospitals without the resources needed for their treatment. —Ella Howard / Made By History, TIME, 10 July 2024

In the 1970s, a time of mass deinstitutionalization, former patients came together to found the Psychiatric Inmates Liberation Movement. —JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024

Decades ago, there was deinstitutionalization of those with mental illness. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2024

The policy has come to be known as deinstitutionalization. —Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 16 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

deinstitutionalization

noun

de·​in·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al·​iza·​tion (ˌ)dē-ˌin(t)-stə-ˌt(y)üsh-nə-lə-ˈzā-shən, -ˌt(y)ü-shən-ᵊl-ə-ˈzā- 

: the release of institutionalized individuals from institutional care (as in a psychiatric hospital) to care in the community

deinstitutionalize

-ˈt(y)üsh-nə-ˌlīz, -ˈt(y)ü-shən-ᵊl-ˌīz 

transitive verb

deinstitutionalized; deinstitutionalizing