established

adjective

es·​tab·​lished i-ˈsta-blisht 

1

: accepted and recognized or followed by many people

established rules/customs/traditions

2

a

: successful for a long period of time and widely known

an established author/artist

an established law firm

… people with Ph.D.s have been credentialed by established experts in their fields

—Louis Menand

b

: growing or flourishing successfully

an established plant

an established flower garden

3

of a church or religion : officially recognized and accepted by the government of a country

Some of the religious groups lasted, but at a price. Their dogma hardened, and they developed organizational structures that are mirror images of established churches.

—O. B. Hardison, Jr.

Examples of established in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

During campaign seasons, investors often seek refuge in larger, more established companies amid political uncertainty. —Robert Daugherty, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

The scariest thing about Kingdom may be its depiction of how a virus adapts, evolves, and spreads, which is an established trope in this genre (28 Weeks Later, anyone?) that takes on new relevance in our pandemic-era times. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2024

Developers are seeking to expand warehouse development beyond the established industrial zone; at least one proposal would result in the demolition of dozens of homes as well as dedicated open space. —Rebecca Plevin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024

In Culinary Class Wars, this distinction feels deliberate: a subtle but telling way of highlighting the social divide between the underdogs and the more established chefs. —Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing established

• established church
• established order
• pre-established