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
He was raised with his only full-blood brother, Lloyd.
Quincy Sr. divorced Sarah shortly after she was institutionalized and remarried a woman named Elvera, who had three children.
—Jennifer Frederick, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Nov. 2024
The Central State Hospital, also known as the Indiana Hospital for the Insane, opened in 1848 as a place where patients with schizophrenia, depression, hysteria, alcoholism, dementia and epilepsy were institutionalized.
—Alysa Guffey, The Indianapolis Star, 24 Oct. 2024
The risk of institutionalizing equity and accountability is more than apparent, but Levata’s bet on its long-term health has prevailed.
—Nia Bowers, USA TODAY, 17 Oct. 2024
And Washington, Tokyo, and Seoul have renewed and institutionalized their trilateral ties.
—Susannah Patton, Foreign Affairs, 13 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for institutionalize 
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Jennifer Frederick, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Nov. 2024
The Central State Hospital, also known as the Indiana Hospital for the Insane, opened in 1848 as a place where patients with schizophrenia, depression, hysteria, alcoholism, dementia and epilepsy were institutionalized.
—Alysa Guffey, The Indianapolis Star, 24 Oct. 2024
The risk of institutionalizing equity and accountability is more than apparent, but Levata’s bet on its long-term health has prevailed.
—Nia Bowers, USA TODAY, 17 Oct. 2024
And Washington, Tokyo, and Seoul have renewed and institutionalized their trilateral ties.
—Susannah Patton, Foreign Affairs, 13 Sep. 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 3 Dec. 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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