institutionalize

1 of 2

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

institutionalization

2 of 2

noun

in·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al·​iza·​tion

variants also British institutionalisation

-ᵊlə̇ˈzāshən, 

-ᵊlˌīˈz-, 

-ələ̇ˈz-, 

-əˌlīˈz-

plural -s

1

: the quality or state of being or becoming institutionalized

a pleasant custom always has a tendency toward institutionalization

2

: the action or a result of institutionalizing

the institutionalization of the insane

Examples of institutionalize in a Sentence

Verb

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

Verb

Honesty is the part nobody wants to institutionalize. —Flavio Maluf, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026

Increasingly, it is institutionalized through large civic spaces designed, funded and operated in real time. —Andre Dowell, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026

Alternatives to the strait Whether or not Iran institutionalizes its control over the strait, doubts about the long-term security of the waterway will remain. —Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 4 June 2026

France’s postwar leader, Charles de Gaulle, spent much of the 1960s institutionalizing what later became known as strategic autonomy. —Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 4 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

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