institutionalize

verb

in·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al·​ize ˌin(t)-stə-ˈt(y)ü-sh(ə-)nə-ˌlīz 

institutionalized; institutionalizing

transitive verb

1

: to make into an institution : give character of an institution to

especially : to incorporate into a structured and often highly formalized system

… he has tried to institutionalize the bank's practices so that it can carry on when he no longer leads it.

—Bruce Shenitz

In 2005, The New York Times revealed a set of NSA surveillance programs that, though considered shocking at the time, have since been institutionalized.

—David Brown

2

: to place in or commit to the care of a specialized institution (such as a psychiatric hospital)

Thirty years ago doctors routinely advised parents to institutionalize children with Down syndrome and other disabilities …

—Parenting

institutionalization

ˌin(t)-stə-ˌt(y)ü-sh(ə-)nə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Examples of institutionalize in a Sentence

It will take time to institutionalize these reforms.

They had to institutionalize their youngest son.

She was institutionalized for seven years.

Recent Examples on the Web

Our four scenarios: Republican sweep: Trump, with a Republican House and Senate, would institutionalize the MAGA movement, with massive consequences for governance, civil rights and international relations. —Axios, 23 Oct. 2024

Around the same time, his son Pablo started to show signs of schizophrenia; Pablo was institutionalized, eventually taking his own life in 1994. —Carlos Valladares, ARTnews.com, 4 Oct. 2024

Merchant recommended trustees explore similar training approaches that help institutionalize a proactive approach to the innovation economy – emphasizing the value of data to drive decision-making. —Shalin Jyotishi, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024

Two of my patients, Lillian G. and Tillie A., have been institutionalized for more than 35 years, and have not seen the outside world for more than ten years. —Oliver Sacks, The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

institutionalize

verb

in·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al·​ize ˌin(t)-stə-ˈt(y)ü-shnə-ˌlīz 

-shən-ᵊl-ˌīz

institutionalized; institutionalizing

1

: to make into or treat like an institution

institutionalized housing

2

: to put into an institution

Medical Definition

institutionalize

transitive verb

in·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al·​ize

variants or chiefly British institutionalise

ˌin(t)-stə-ˈt(y)ü-shnəl-ˌīz, -shən-ᵊl- 

institutionalized or chiefly British institutionalised; institutionalizing or chiefly British institutionalising

: to place in or commit to the care of a specialized institution

Thirty years ago doctors routinely advised parents to institutionalize children with Down syndrome and other disabilities …

—Parenting

institutionalization noun

or chiefly British institutionalisation

-ˌt(y)ü-shnəl-ə-ˈzā-shən, -ˌt(y)ü-shən-ᵊl- 

Legal Definition

institutionalize

transitive verb

in·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al·​ize ˌin-stə-ˈtü-shə-nə-ˌlīz, -ˈtyü- 

institutionalized; institutionalizing

: to put in the care of an institution compare commit