establishment

noun

es·​tab·​lish·​ment i-ˈsta-blish-mənt 

1

: something established: such as

a

: a settled arrangement

especially : a code of laws

b

: established church

c

: a permanent civil or military organization

d

: a place of business or residence with its furnishings and staff

e

: a public or private institution

2

: an established order of society: such as

a

often capitalized : a group of social, economic, and political leaders who form a ruling class (as of a nation)

b

often capitalized : a controlling group

the literary establishment

3

a

: the act of establishing

b

: the state of being established

Synonyms

• joint
• parlor
• place
• salon

Examples of establishment in a Sentence

the establishment of a business

the establishment of a scientific fact

His novels were disliked by the literary establishment.

Recent Examples on the Web

Alongside awarded establishments and buzzy up-and-comers, diners have flocked to local institutions for decades, even 120 years in the case of Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City. —Susan B. Barnes, Southern Living, 1 May 2025

State Attorney General Gentner Drummond filed suit to block the move, arguing that the decision violated both state and federal constitutional prohibitions against government establishment of religion. —Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025

All Americans must take care not to turn the First Amendment’s ban on establishment of religion from becoming a license to discriminate against religion. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 1 May 2025

For more than two hours, the justices debated application of the First Amendment's competing religion clauses to the case, weighing both its prohibition of state establishment of religion and its protection of free exercise of religious faith. —Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Phrases Containing establishment

• non-establishment
• re-establishment
• the establishment

Rhymes for establishment

• disestablishment
• reestablishment

Kids Definition

establishment

noun

es·​tab·​lish·​ment is-ˈtab-lish-mənt 

1

: the act of establishing : the state or fact of being established

establishment of a church

establishment of a scientific fact

2

: a place for residence or business

a dry-cleaning establishment

3

: an established order of society

also, often capitalized : the social, economic, and political leaders of such an order

rebelling against the establishment

Legal Definition

establishment

noun

es·​tab·​lish·​ment

1

: something established: as

a

: a church recognized by law as the official church of a nation or state and supported by civil authority

b

: a permanent civil or military organization

c

: a place of residence or especially business with its furnishings and staff

2

a

: an act of establishing

b

: the state of being established