establishment

[ ih-stab-lish-muhnt ]

noun

1. the act or an instance of establishing.
2. the state or fact of being established.
3. something established; a constituted order or system.
4. Often the Establishment.
   1. the existing power structure in society; the dominant groups in society and their customs or institutions; institutional authority:

      The Establishment believes exploring outer space is worth any tax money spent.

   2. the dominant group in a field of endeavor, organization, etc.:

      the literary Establishment.

5. a household; place of residence including its furnishings, grounds, etc.
6. a place of business together with its employees, merchandise, equipment, etc.
7. a permanent civil, military, or other force or organization.
8. an institution, as a school, hospital, etc.
9. the recognition by a state of a church as the state church.
10. the church so recognized, especially the Church of England.
11. Archaic. a fixed or settled income.

establishment

¹

/ ɪˈstæblɪʃmənt /

noun

1. the act of establishing or state of being established
2. 1. a business organization or other large institution
   2. the place where a business is carried on
3. the staff and equipment of a commercial or other organization
4. the approved size, composition, and equipment of a military unit, government department, business division, etc, as formally promulgated
5. any large organization, institution, or system
6. a household or place of residence
7. a body of employees or servants
8. modifier belonging to or characteristic of the Establishment; orthodox or conservative

   the establishment view of history

Establishment

²

/ ɪˈstæblɪʃmənt /

noun

1. the Establishment
   a group or class of people having institutional authority within a society, esp those who control the civil service, the government, the armed forces, and the Church: usually identified with a conservative outlook

Other Words From

• non·es·tab·lish·ment noun adjective
• re·es·tab·lish·ment noun
• su·per·es·tab·lish·ment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of establishment¹

First recorded in 1475–85, and in 1920–25 establishment fordef 4a; establish + -ment

Example Sentences

Satirists occupy a perilous position—to skewer dogma and cant, and to antagonize the establishment while needing its protection.

From The Daily Beast

Satirists are reliant ultimately on the very establishment they mock.

From The Daily Beast

Two factors made Hiram Revels especially interesting to the Washington establishment.

From The Daily Beast

Ironically, the play deals with the ‘management’ of information by the Establishment.

From The Daily Beast

Before his writing days, London used the Oakland establishment to conduct his studies.

From The Daily Beast

Mrs. Wurzel was quite right; they had been supplied, regardless of cost, from Messrs. Rochet and Stole's well-known establishment.

From Project Gutenberg

We had half a dozen passengers to Ferrara; for the rest of the way, I had this extensive traveling establishment to myself.

From Project Gutenberg

On the establishment of the Empire Berthier, like many another, received the reward for his faithfulness to Napoleon.

From Project Gutenberg

If schooling is a training in expression and communication, college is essentially the establishment of broad convictions.

From Project Gutenberg

Orlean had secured a position in a ladies' tailoring establishment at five dollars and fifty cents a week, and there he went.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• formation
• formulation
• founding
• inauguration
• installation
• institution