institutionalize

verb

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

institutionalized; institutionalizing

transitive verb

1

: to make into an institution : give character of an institution to

especially : to incorporate into a structured and often highly formalized system

… he has tried to institutionalize the bank's practices so that it can carry on when he no longer leads it.

—Bruce Shenitz

In 2005, The New York Times revealed a set of NSA surveillance programs that, though considered shocking at the time, have since been institutionalized.

—David Brown

2

: to place in or commit to the care of a specialized institution (such as a psychiatric hospital)

Thirty years ago doctors routinely advised parents to institutionalize children with Down syndrome and other disabilities …

—Parenting

institutionalization

ˌin(t)-stə-ˌt(y)ü-sh(ə-)nə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Examples of institutionalize in a Sentence

It will take time to institutionalize these reforms.

They had to institutionalize their youngest son.

She was institutionalized for seven years.

Recent Examples on the Web

Fitzgerald died young at age 44 in 1940, a victim of his alcoholism and life’s other demons that haunted him in his lifetime, such as his wife Zelda being institutionalized from 1930 until her death at age 47 in 1948. —Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026

Further institutionalizing them has deepened their entrenchment within the state. —ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026

South Africa’s system of racial segregation that institutionalized white supremacy was dismantled in 1994. —Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026

Iran has sought to institutionalize its control of the strait possibly through a toll system after the conflict ends. —Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 15 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

institutionalize

verb

in·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al·​ize ˌin(t)-stə-ˈt(y)ü-shnə-ˌlīz 

-shən-ᵊl-ˌīz

institutionalized; institutionalizing

1

: to make into or treat like an institution

institutionalized housing

2

: to put into an institution

Medical Definition

institutionalize

transitive verb

in·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al·​ize

variants or chiefly British institutionalise

ˌin(t)-stə-ˈt(y)ü-shnəl-ˌīz, -shən-ᵊl- 

institutionalized or chiefly British institutionalised; institutionalizing or chiefly British institutionalising

: to place in or commit to the care of a specialized institution

Thirty years ago doctors routinely advised parents to institutionalize children with Down syndrome and other disabilities …

—Parenting

institutionalization noun

or chiefly British institutionalisation

-ˌt(y)ü-shnəl-ə-ˈzā-shən, -ˌt(y)ü-shən-ᵊl- 

Legal Definition

institutionalize

transitive verb

in·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al·​ize ˌin-stə-ˈtü-shə-nə-ˌlīz, -ˈtyü- 

institutionalized; institutionalizing

: to put in the care of an institution compare commit