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 chemical control, pre-emergent herbicides can be applied in fall and early spring to prevent weeds, while post-emergent herbicides can be applied to kill established weeds. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 18 Dec. 2025

In established states, brands like Rove have successfully navigated competitive pressures by building a formidable premium identity. —Peter Su, Rolling Stone, 9 Dec. 2025

Colette was by this time an established and famous writer. —Literary Hub, 9 Dec. 2025

Each of that clutch of 20th Century and contemporary art collections would be the pride of many an established museum, and their shine put the glow on Miami’s art-world rep, a critical catalyst in the city’s newfound status as a magnet for international wealth and finance. —Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 Nov. 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