establishment

noun

es·​tab·​lish·​ment i-ˈsta-blish-mənt How to pronounce establishment (audio)
1
: something established: such as
a
: a settled arrangement
especially : a code of laws
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

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
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.
But Jerusalem also appears to have a secondary goal of damaging Iran’s security establishment to such an extent that the country’s domestic opposition can rise up against the regime, Modell said. Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 21 June 2025 Mamdani, for his part, is painting Cuomo as part of the same old political establishment that has ignored the concerns of working people for years. Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 20 June 2025 Many of them duck into his establishment before or after shows for food, drink and atmosphere. Annika Merrilees, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2025 Or she was goaded into it by Harry, who clearly was eager to unload on the royal establishment. Martha Ross, Mercury News, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for establishment

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of establishment was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Establishment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/establishment. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

establishment

noun
es·​tab·​lish·​ment is-ˈtab-lish-mənt How to pronounce establishment (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on establishment

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