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

Just be sure not to complain about higher prices in establishments with no-tipping policies. —Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2024

City lacks rules specific to food vendors who are invited by establishments to sell food to their patrons NATIONAL CITY — National City may soon adopt new rules for pop-up caterers and the businesses that hire them. —Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2024

And in the case of food establishments, like most sports, the first line of defense are the players in the game, which are the industry that produces the products. —USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024

The closure is scheduled for June 2. Separately, Temple Nightclub, a top nightspot in San Francisco for decades, revealed plans to chop 86 jobs as part of a permanent closure of the high-profile drinking and nightlife establishment. —George Avalos, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024

Iran’s national security establishment sees investing in asymmetric warfare as an economical means of gaining leverage against more powerful adversaries, especially the United States. —Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024

Business on Sundays also contributed to up to 30% of the shops’ weekly sales as few establishments are typically running. —Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 5 Apr. 2024

Davis says that people know the important place an establishment like BEM holds in the community. —Tonya Abari, Essence, 5 Apr. 2024

That’s because the soccer establishment did its best to bury it. —Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing establishment

• non-establishment
• re-establishment
• the establishment

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