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. 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 Word Forms

• nonestablishment noun
• reestablishment noun
• superestablishment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of establishment¹

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

Example Sentences

“Hey, sugar,” says a young woman as I near the warehouse’s main bar, a wraparound establishment themed to a large boiler.

From Los Angeles Times

For months, her anticipated arrival at CBS News, an aging pillar of the press establishment, has been a hot topic in the news business.

From Los Angeles Times

The baroness described the court ruling as "nothing less than an establishment win for the government in a case that was too big to lose".

From BBC

But her approach – associating so closely with the animals she studied, naming them and even referring to them as "my friends" - made her unpopular with the male-dominated scientific establishment.

From BBC

Mone described the court ruling as "nothing less than an establishment win for the government in a case that was too big to lose".

From BBC

Related Words

• formation 
• formulation www.thesaurus.com
• founding www.thesaurus.com
• inauguration 
• installation 
• institution 

When To Use

What does establishment mean?

Establishment commonly refers to the official start or founding of something, such as a law, business, or other organization, as in It has been 200 years since the establishment of this great nation. It is the noun form of the verb establish, which has many meanings but most commonly means to found, institute, or bring into being.Things that have been established are called establishments, especially businesses, as in I try to buy from local establishments whenever possible. Establishment is also used more specifically to refer collectively to the existing power structure in a society and its dominant institutions, as in That kind of radical thinking is frowned upon by the establishment. This use is often negative. It can also be used in a similar way to refer to the dominant group in a particular field, as in the medical establishment. In both of these cases, Establishment is often capitalized.