Definition of institution
1 : an act of instituting : establishment
2a : 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 theaterb : an established organization or corporation (such as a bank or university) especially of a public character financial institutionsc : 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.
From the M-W Editors
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 of institution from the Web
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VEB, as Vnesheconombank is known, did not respond to a list of questions about the Kushner meeting and the institution's history and role in Russia.
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But for leaders and advocates of these institutions, the release of Trump’s budget in late May did nothing of the sort.
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A healthy democracy like Nigeria now has institutions which function well when the president is ill.
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About 35 years later, NASA gave him and other astronauts each a moon rock with the stipulation that it be given to a nonprofit institution.
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But the app’s privacy policy did not allow institutions to identify users who posed a risk without a subpoena, court order or search warrant, or an emergency request from a law-enforcement official with a compelling claim of imminent harm.
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Wells Fargo spokesman David Kennedy said Wednesday the banking institution’s investment in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race has declined since 2010.
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Five months after the U.S. Department of Justice announced a major initiative to crack down on financial institutions taking advantage of active-duty service members, the agency intervened in McGreevey's case.
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Birmingham-Southern College is a four-year, private liberal arts institution in Birmingham, founded in 1856 and affiliated with the United Methodist Church.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'institution'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
15th Century
First Known Use of institution
15th century
INSTITUTION Defined for English Language Learners
institution
playDefinition of institution for English Language Learners
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: an established organization
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: a place where an organization takes care of people for a usually long period of time
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: a custom, practice, or law that is accepted and used by many people
INSTITUTION Defined for Kids
institution
playDefinition of institution for Students
1 : the beginning or establishment of something the institution of new rules
2 : an established custom, practice, or law Turkey dinners are a Thanksgiving institution.
3 : an established organization business institutions
Medical Dictionary
institution
playMedical Definition of institution
: 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
Law Dictionary
institution
Legal Definition of institution
1 : the act of instituting
2 : a significant practice, relationship, or organization in a society or culture the institution of marriage
3 : an established organization or corporation especially of a public character; specifically : a facility for the treatment or training of persons with mental deficiencies
Learn More about institution
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See words that rhyme with institution Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for institution Spanish Central: Translation of institution Nglish: Translation of institution for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of institution for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about institution
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