institution

noun

ˌin(t)-stə-ˈtü-shən How to pronounce institution (audio)
Definition of institutionnext
1
as in institute
a public organization with a particular purpose or function a charitable institution devoted to raising funds to feed the hungry

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in fixture
a person who has long been associated with a place or activity an actor who has been a Broadway institution for decades

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in organization
a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest an institution devoted to studying social problems and proposing solutions for them

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of institution At the top of that system sit the highly competitive grandes écoles, the elite institutions of higher education that have produced leaders in politics, culture, and business. — Nicholas Bequelin, Time, 16 Oct. 2026 In one example, the institution’s claim that California’s minimum wage law for fast-food workers had devastated the job market for those workers was tripped up by its failure to recognize the effect of seasonal adjustments in employment statistics. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 Participating institutions and organizations will present exhibitions and special programming, with conversations, tours, and special events occurring throughout the week. — News Desk, Artforum, 16 Oct. 2026 The institutions said students' safety, physical well-being and dignity are priorities. — Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for institution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for institution
  1. institute
  2. fixture
  3. organization
  4. group
  5. society
  6. foundation
  7. association
  8. establishment
Noun
  • Monica Church was the institute’s executive director from 2022 to 2024, and Achilles remains a board member.
    — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The state’s release does not set placement or wage targets for the new institute.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of institute
Noun
  • The shop says Molly is a fixture and offered her other options.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Lastly, try ducking into Casey Rubber Stamps, founded in 1979, in the West Village, and a neighborhood fixture since 2003.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of fixture
Noun
  • The organization built a political presence in Texas with lobbying and legislative testimony as the state pushed back on transgender ideology in recent years.
    — Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Databricks helps organizations collect, process, and analyze large amounts of data and has been used by companies, such as Al-Futtaim Group, to help optimize its supply chain and develop a customer loyalty program.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of organization
Noun
  • The case originates from a change in admissions policy that began a decade ago, when a consulting group was hired to evaluate how the school system chose students for its middle school magnet programs.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The money will go to conservation groups and local partners working on species the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies as endangered, critically endangered, or extinct in the wild.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of group
Noun
  • Such acts undermine Israel's security, its regional and international standing, and the moral fabric of our society.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • By the 1980s, England was beginning its turn away from churchgoing as a cornerstone of society, so nothing as extroverted or nakedly clerical as gospel choirs would fit a downcast, monochromatic land anyhow.
    — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of society
Noun
  • Its foundation is HiNAS Prime, an autonomous navigation system developed by Avikus, HD Hyundai’s autonomous navigation subsidiary.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
  • They're used in primers, foundations, and hair serums for a slick application.
    — Tracy Middleton, Allure, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of foundation
Noun
  • The association remained after accounting for whether patients completed radiation on time, suggesting that on-time completion may not fully explain the difference.
    — Marci Lee Nilsen, The Conversation, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Mike Elliott, senior director of Banner Sports Medicine High Performance Center, told Banner Health that most of the available research is observational and shows association rather than direct cause.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of association
Noun
  • Valentin Prudon, vice-president of the Union of Hotel and Restaurant Trades and Industries (UMIH), said some establishments had experienced cancellations, while others had closed in anticipation of the demonstrations.
    — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
  • This Billingsgate community has access to public transportation, golf, equestrian centers, local farm stands, hiking trails, the Farmington River, public library, and an unlimited range of eclectic dining, coffee shops and retail establishments.
    — James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of establishment

Browse Nearby Words

instituting
institution
institutions
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Cite this Entry

“Institution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/institution. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about institution

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