institutionalize
verb
in·sti·tu·tion·al·ize
ˌin(t)-stə-ˈt(y)ü-sh(ə-)nə-ˌlīz 
institutionalized; institutionalizing
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
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
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
ParentingExamples 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
Along with consolidating its own power, the government was seeking to institutionalize higher status for Jewish citizens and strengthen the influence of Jewish religion in public and private life.
—Dahlia Scheindlin, Foreign Affairs, 27 Sep. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for institutionalize 
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Dahlia Scheindlin, Foreign Affairs, 27 Sep. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for institutionalize
Dictionary Entries Near institutionalize
Cite this Entry
“Institutionalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/institutionalize. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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
Parenting
institutionalization
noun
or chiefly British institutionalisation
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
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