institutionalize

[ in-sti-too-shuh-nl-ahyz, -tyoo- ]

verb (used with object)

, in·sti·tu·tion·al·ized, in·sti·tu·tion·al·iz·ing.

1. to make institutional.
2. to make into or treat as an institution:

   the danger of institutionalizing racism.

3. to place or confine in an institution, especially one for the care of mental illness, alcoholism, etc.

institutionalize

/ ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃənəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. tr; often passive to subject to the deleterious effects of confinement in an institution

   a mental patient who was institutionalized into boredom and apathy

2. tr to place in an institution
3. to make or become an institution

Derived Forms

• ˌinstiˌtutionaliˈzation, noun

Other Words From

• in·sti·tu·tion·al·i·za·tion [in-sti-too-sh, uh, -nl-ahy-, zey, -sh, uh, n, -tyoo-], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of institutionalize¹

First recorded in 1860–65; institutional + -ize

Example Sentences

Complacency and procrastination are our worst enemies here and only work to institutionalize inequity.

From Search Engine Land

“I’ve found it helpful to institutionalize taking days off after big, emotionally draining assignments,” said Wang.

From Digiday

He was institutionalized from ages 7 to 14 and said he was arrested for the first time when he was 10, for arson.

From Washington Post

FERA ended in 1935 as new legislation institutionalized its roles in agencies that would function beyond the immediate disaster of the Depression.

From Washington Post

The party was built to institutionalize power but it wasn’t well built to protect that power.

From Washington Post

Better institutionalize me a second time...” and “Academia is going to have to get used to a bit of immoderate tweeting.

From The Daily Beast

Her parents were told to institutionalize her, but thankfully, they bucked the conventional advice.

From The Daily Beast

Like Carver, Borlaug then sought to institutionalize his breakthroughs.

From The Daily Beast

Therefore, any impulse to institutionalize the exclusion of the Muslim Brotherhood will be a catastrophe.

From The Daily Beast

Fourth, Rapid Dominance aims to achieve new levels of operational competence that can virtually institutionalize "brilliance."

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• regulate