institution
noun
in·sti·tu·tion
ˌin(t)-stə-ˈtü-shən 
-ˈtyü-
1
a
: an established organization or corporation (such as a bank or university) especially of a public character
financial institutions
b
: a facility or establishment in which people (such as the sick or needy) live and receive care typically in a confined setting and often without individual consent
… the testator disinherited her siblings over their efforts to have her committed to a mental institution in the wake of several suicide attempts.—
William M. McGovern, Jr.
William M. McGovern, Jr.
c
: a significant practice, relationship, or organization in a society or culture
the institution of marriage
also
: something or someone firmly associated with a place or thing
she has become an institution in the theater
2
: an act of instituting : establishment
Examples of institution in a Sentence
banks and other financial institutions
an institution of higher learning
Family visits are a Thanksgiving institution.
She's not interested in the institution of marriage.
The play has become something of an institution on Broadway.
the institution of new rules and regulations
Recent Examples on the Web
The targets are those film companies and institutions that are complicit and are white-washing or justifying the genocide and its apartheid regime.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 6 Oct. 2025
Eliminating $1 law and focus on community needs The board’s sixth priority revolves around facilities and advocates for the immediate removal of the $1 law, which requires school districts to hand over unused buildings to charter schools or other educational institutions for a $1.
—Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 6 Oct. 2025
The structure makes visible the competing forces that govern the institution.
—Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Still, advocates insist that HBCUs struggle with funding and their endowments are significantly smaller than predominately White institutions.
—Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for institution
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show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Selome Hailu, Variety, 6 Oct. 2025
Eliminating $1 law and focus on community needs The board’s sixth priority revolves around facilities and advocates for the immediate removal of the $1 law, which requires school districts to hand over unused buildings to charter schools or other educational institutions for a $1.
—Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 6 Oct. 2025
The structure makes visible the competing forces that govern the institution.
—Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Still, advocates insist that HBCUs struggle with funding and their endowments are significantly smaller than predominately White institutions.
—Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for institution
Cite this Entry
“Institution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/institution. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
institution
noun
in·sti·tu·tion
ˌin(t)-stə-ˈt(y)ü-shən
1
: the act of instituting : establishment
2
: an established custom, practice, or law in a society or culture
the institution of marriage
turkey dinner is a Thanksgiving institution
3
a
: an established organization or corporation and especially one of a public nature
educational institutions
a financial institution
b
institutional
adjective
-shnəl
-shən-ᵊl
institutionally
adverb
-ē
Medical Definition
institution
noun
in·sti·tu·tion
ˌin(t)-stə-ˈt(y)ü-shən
: a facility or establishment in which people (such as the sick or needy) live and receive care typically in a confined setting and often without individual consent
a mental institution
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