deinstitutionalization

noun

de·​in·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al·​i·​za·​tion (ˌ)dē-ˌin(t)-stə-ˌtü-shə-nə-lə-ˈzā-shən How to pronounce deinstitutionalization (audio)
-ˌtyü-
1
: the release of institutionalized individuals from institutional care (as in a psychiatric hospital) to care in the community
2
: the reform or modification of an institution to remove or disguise its institutional character
deinstitutionalize transitive verb

Examples of deinstitutionalization in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web By the 1970s, SROs were regularly vilified in the media, despite still serving as crucial housing for hundreds of thousands of people, including those with mental illness who were booted from the deinstitutionalization of asylums. Rachel M. Cohen, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018 The era’s deinstitutionalization policies toward the mentally ill led to the release of many former patients of psychiatric hospitals without the resources needed for their treatment. Ella Howard / Made By History, TIME, 10 July 2024 In the 1970s, a time of mass deinstitutionalization, former patients came together to found the Psychiatric Inmates Liberation Movement. JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024 Decades ago, there was deinstitutionalization of those with mental illness. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for deinstitutionalization 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deinstitutionalization.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deinstitutionalization was in 1955

Dictionary Entries Near deinstitutionalization

Cite this Entry

“Deinstitutionalization.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deinstitutionalization. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

deinstitutionalization

noun
de·​in·​sti·​tu·​tion·​al·​iza·​tion (ˌ)dē-ˌin(t)-stə-ˌt(y)üsh-nə-lə-ˈzā-shən, -ˌt(y)ü-shən-ᵊl-ə-ˈzā- How to pronounce deinstitutionalization (audio)
: the release of institutionalized individuals from institutional care (as in a psychiatric hospital) to care in the community
deinstitutionalize transitive verb
deinstitutionalized; deinstitutionalizing

More from Merriam-Webster on deinstitutionalization

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