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
Beijing is focused, as well, on the acquisition of diverse technologies and is institutionalizing unprecedented changes in force posture that will enable it to meet specific operational goals in the nuclear realm.
—Ashley J. Tellis, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2024
San Diego County has been the only other county to institutionalize its use early on, and filed 2,490 total orders between 2016 and 2023, compared to 1,481 during the same time period in Santa Clara County, which has about half the population of its Southern California counterpart.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 13 June 2024
Despite the advice of many to have Jimmy institutionalized, the Erskines insisted on raising him themselves.
—Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2024
William Woods, who had his identity stolen by a Hartland, Wisconsin, man 36 years ago and was institutionalized for nearly two years after pleading his case that authorities had the wrong guy, is considering a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles, according to a report.
—Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for institutionalize 
Ashley J. Tellis, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2024
San Diego County has been the only other county to institutionalize its use early on, and filed 2,490 total orders between 2016 and 2023, compared to 1,481 during the same time period in Santa Clara County, which has about half the population of its Southern California counterpart.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 13 June 2024
Despite the advice of many to have Jimmy institutionalized, the Erskines insisted on raising him themselves.
—Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2024
William Woods, who had his identity stolen by a Hartland, Wisconsin, man 36 years ago and was institutionalized for nearly two years after pleading his case that authorities had the wrong guy, is considering a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles, according to a report.
—Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for institutionalize
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'institutionalize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near institutionalize
Cite this Entry
“Institutionalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/institutionalize. Accessed 4 Jul. 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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