institute

[ in-sti-toot, -tyoot ]

verb (used with object)

, in·sti·tut·ed, in·sti·tut·ing.

1. to set up; establish; organize:

   to institute a government.

2. to inaugurate; initiate; start:

   to institute a new course in American literature.

3. to set in operation:

   to institute a lawsuit.

4. to bring into use or practice:

   to institute laws.

5. to establish in an office or position.
6. Ecclesiastical. to assign to or invest with a spiritual charge, as of a parish.

noun

1. a society or organization for carrying on a particular work, as of a literary, scientific, or educational character.
2. the building occupied by such a society.
3. Education.
   1. an institution, generally beyond the secondary school level, devoted to instruction in technical subjects, usually separate but sometimes organized as a part of a university.
   2. a unit within a university organized for advanced instruction and research in a relatively narrow field of subject matter.
   3. a short instructional program set up for a special group interested in a specialized field or subject.
4. an established principle, law, custom, or organization.
5. institutes,
   1. an elementary textbook of law designed for beginners.
   2. (initial capital letter) Also called Institutes of Justinian. an elementary treatise on Roman law in four books, forming one of the four divisions of the Corpus Juris Civilis.
6. something instituted.

institute

/ ˈɪnstɪˌtjuːt /

verb

1. to organize; establish
2. to initiate

   to institute a practice

3. to establish in a position or office; induct
4. foll byin or into to install (a clergyman) in a church

noun

1. an organization founded for particular work, such as education, promotion of the arts, or scientific research
2. the building where such an organization is situated
3. something instituted, esp a rule, custom, or precedent

Derived Forms

• ˈinstiˌtutor, noun

Other Words From

• re·insti·tute verb (used with object) reinstituted reinstituting
• un·insti·tuted adjective
• well-insti·tuted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of institute¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Latin institūtus, past participle of instituere “to set, put up, establish,” equivalent to in- ”in” + -stitū- (combining form of statū-, stem of statuere “to place upright, set, stand” ) + -tus past participle suffix; in- ², stand

Word History and Origins

Origin of institute¹

C16: from Latin instituere, from statuere to place, stand

Example Sentences

Lawmakers established a tax on logging to pay for the institute while cutting taxes paid by the timber industry that helped fund schools and local governments.

From ProPublica

Meanwhile, a farm science research institute in New Zealand, AgResearch, hopes to target methane production at its source by eliminating methanogens, the microbes thought to be responsible for producing the greenhouse gas in ruminants.

From Singularity Hub 

This is according to credit and debit card transaction information analyzed by Opportunity Insights, a policy institute based at Harvard University.

From Quartz

To estimate the relationship between income and life expectancy, researchers from Opportunity Insights, a policy institute based at Harvard University, gained access to federal income tax and Social Security records.

From Quartz

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is one of the most important biomedical research institutes in the world.

From Freakonomics

He rebuffed calls to institute the death penalty, and his last term as governor ended in his defeat.

From The Daily Beast

E.J. Graff, senior fellow at the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism, is the author of What Is Marriage For?

From The Daily Beast

The institute put out new numbers just this past summer (PDF), and they are eye-popping.

From The Daily Beast

Near the end of my time with Hitchcock, the American Film Institute is preparing to honor him with their Life Achievement Award.

From The Daily Beast

For additional information on seasonal depression, head to the National Institute of Mental Health.

From The Daily Beast

The scene was the Imperial Institute, and the meetings lasted till July the 9th.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Garnett is a graduate of Oneida Institute, a speaker of great pathetic eloquence, and has written several valuable pamphlets.

From Project Gutenberg

He always liked you better than any one; do you know that he has a picture of you taken when we went to the Institute?

From Project Gutenberg

The library of the Institute, however, is only open to foreigners and the members of the Institute.

From Project Gutenberg

The Institute holds its sitting every month, and, according to all report, is then frivolous enough.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• appoint
• come up with
• create
• enact
• establish
• inaugurate
• initiate
• install
• introduce
• launch
• organize
• set up