institution

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institution

/ˌɪn.stɪˈtʃuː.ʃən/ UK
/ˌɪn.stɪˈtjuː.ʃən/ UK
/ˌɪn.stɪˈtu.ʃən/ Canada, US
/ˌɪn.stɪˈtjʉː.ʃən/ Australia

Rhymes with -uːʃən

Where it comes from

From Middle English institucioun, from Old French institution, from Latin institūtiō, from instituō (“to set up”), from in- (“in, on”) + statuō (“to set up, establish”). Equivalent to institute + -ion.

noun institutions

countable, uncountable A long-established organization or type of organization, particularly one involved with education, public service, or charity work. The University of the South Pacific is the only internationally accredited institution of higher education in Oceania.
countable, uncountable A custom or practice of a society or community. The institution of marriage is present in many cultures but its details vary widely across them.
countable, uncountable The building or buildings which house such an organization. He's been in an institution since the crash.
countable, informal, uncountable A mental institution.
countable, uncountable Any facility where people (especially those who are mentally or physically disabled or sick, or who are prisoners) are committed (confined), where their freedom to leave is restricted.
countable, informal, uncountable Any long established and respected place or business. Over time, the local pub has become something of an institution.
countable, informal, uncountable A person long established in a place, position, or field. She's not just any old scholar; she is an institution.
countable, uncountable The act of instituting something. The institution of higher speed limits was a popular move but increased the severity of crashes.
countable, uncountable The act by which a bishop commits a cure of souls to a priest.
countable, obsolete, uncountable That which institutes or instructs, particularly a textbook or system of elements or rules.
countable, informal, uncountable A correctional institution.

Similar: establishment

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: establishment, founding, initiation, creation, foundation, origination, instauration, institutionalisation, institutionalization, institute, appointment, company, superintendence, charity, corporate, association

noun

Similar: establishment

Translations

Every language

noun established organisation

Español	institución
한국어	기관 gigwan
日本語	機構 kikō, 機関 kikan
中文	機關 /机关 jīguān, 機構 /机构 jīgòu
हिन्दी	संस्था sansthā, प्रतिष्ठान pratiṣṭhān, संस्थान sansthān
Kiswahili	taasisi, chuo
Português	instituição
Français	institution
Deutsch	Institution
Italiano	istituzione
Ελληνικά	ίδρυμα ídryma
Română	instituție
Русский	учрежде́ние učreždénije, заведе́ние zavedénije, организа́ция organizácija, ве́домство védomstvo, институ́ция institúcija
Tiếng Việt	cơ quan, thiết chế
العربية	مُؤَسَّسَة muʔassasa

noun custom or practice of a society or community

한국어	제도 jedo
日本語	制度 seido
中文	制度 zhìdù
हिन्दी	रीति rīti, प्रथा prathā
Deutsch	Institution
Ελληνικά	θεσμός thesmós
Русский	институ́т institút, институ́ция institúcija
Tiếng Việt	thể chế

noun person long established with a certain place or position

Deutsch	Institution
Ελληνικά	μορφή morfí, προσωπικότητα prosopikótita

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MLA

"institution." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/institution. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

institution. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/institution

Chicago

"institution." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/institution.

BibTeX

@misc{institution_2026,
  title = {institution},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/institution},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}