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

The searches targeted figures long associated with the governing Georgian Dream party and the country's security establishment.

Read more on Barron's

The Democratic Party nationally also is likely watching to see if the America's biggest Democratic stronghold chooses an establishment, centrist Cuomo, who is running as an independent or the progressive Mamdani.

Read more on BBC

Mamdani, 33, is a state lawmaker for the Queens borough of New York and has faced criticism for his relative youth in the face of a typically older political establishment.

Read more on Barron's

A concluding section, “The Declaration and the World,” carries the story into the 20th century and beyond, with a new set of human-rights and independence movements and the establishment of the United Nations.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The business squeeze has in turn led many establishments to raise entry charges and drinks prices, setting off a vicious circle where many young people and stalwarts of the scene feel priced out.

Read more on Barron's

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.