institutional

adjective

in·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al ˌin(t)-stə-ˈt(y)ü-sh(ə-)nəl 

1

: of or relating to an institution

institutional knowledge

2

: characteristic of or appropriate to institutions

bland institutional cooking

institutional green walls

institutionally adverb

Examples of institutional in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

My partner’s refusal to be comforted by this institutional food struck me sometimes as pointlessly obstructive and at other times as a sign of self-respect. —Rachel Cusk, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025

The college moved to implement a $25 application deposit, even though the move went against the institutional belief in being a barrier-free community resource. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2025

Valentine's 28 years have included highs and lows Since joining the symphony in 1998, Valentine led the organization through an era of artistic and institutional growth. —Melonee Hurt, The Tennessean, 22 Aug. 2025

To overcome the country’s seemingly intractable political deadlock, Rodríguez advocates institutional reforms that encourage more moderate political behavior and allow losers to exit power peacefully. —Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1617, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing institutional

• anti-institutional
• institutional racism
• inter-institutional
• multi-institutional

Rhymes for institutional

• attributional
• constitutional
• convolutional
• distributional
• involutional
• substitutional
• interinstitutional
• noninstitutional
• unconstitutional