installation
Americannoun
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installations
plural
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something installed, as machinery or apparatus placed in position or connected for use.
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the act of installing.
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the fact of being installed.
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Military. any more or less permanent post, camp, station, base, or the like, for the support or carrying on of military activities.
noun
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the act of installing or the state of being installed
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a large device, system, or piece of equipment that has been installed
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a military establishment usually serving in a support role
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an art exhibit often involving video or moving parts where the relation of the parts to the whole is important to the interpretation of the piece
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of installation
First recorded in 1600–10, installation is from the Medieval Latin word installātiōn- (stem of installātiō ). See install, -ation
Explanation
Installation is the process of putting something in a position so it can work properly. If the installation of the new dishwasher goes badly, you'll end up with water all over the kitchen floor. Installation is frequently used for appliances and machinery, like the installation of a fountain in your yard or the installation of a fan in your attic to help the house stay cool. You can also use it for people being set up in new positions or jobs: "The installation of a new president has been positive for the university." When artists talk about installations, they mean semi-permanent art exhibits: "The video installation in the museum's elevator is very innovative."
Vocabulary lists containing installation
On a Pedestal: Marble-ous Words for Sculpture
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Shipwrecked!
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Selection Vocabulary 4, Unit 4
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Both had received grants for their cameras but ended their contracts after issues with Flock installation and in response to public uproar over their use.
From Salon ● Sep. 6, 2026
These devices, along with other examples from the project, were featured in a recent Art Lab installation.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 4, 2026
The two have worked with the artist since 2009, and in previous presentations he approached the conception and installation as a kind of director.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
Meantime, a working paper from researchers at the University of South Carolina indicates vehicle theft dropped by 11% in relevant jurisdictions after the installation of Flock cameras, according to law enforcement data from 2017-23.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
One artist offered a giant bright installation titled “Underground Springs” made from tin cans roped together, painted flashing purple and silver, spilling forth from a map of Israel on the wall.
From "Habibi" by Naomi Shihab Nye
The 46-year-old builds sculptures, art installations, archives and community.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
The exhibition includes the North American museum debut of two installations in addition to daily live performances and other works made during the past two decades.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026
It includes the construction of fortifications, equipment depots, as well as reconnaissance and anti-drone installations.
From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026
The Gulf is dotted with US military installations, including in the UAE, which said on Tuesday that Iran had fired two ballistic missiles at vessels off its coast.
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
By the end of March, the last US combat troops pulled out of Vietnam, leaving ten thousand Americans: military advisors, Marines to protect US installations, and non-military personnel.
From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
