installation

American  

[in-stuh-ley-shuhn] / ˌɪn stəˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

1. something installed, install, as machinery or apparatus placed in position or connected for use.

2. the act of installing. install.

3. the fact of being installed. install.

4. Military. any more or less permanent post, camp, station, base, or the like, for the support or carrying on of military activities.

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installation British  

/ ˌɪnstəˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of installing or the state of being installed

2. a large device, system, or piece of equipment that has been installed

3. a military establishment usually serving in a support role

4. 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

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Other Word Forms

• preinstallation noun
• reinstallation noun

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."

Example Sentences

After Coachella, the installation is scheduled to hit the road with stops in Brooklyn, Chicago, Mexico City and beyond.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

I would also flag Floor & Decor Holdings, which sells flooring, tiles, and installation materials.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

AT&T charged a $150 installation fee plus $30 a month.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

Her Easter sermon comes just shy of a fortnight after her installation as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, during which she said her teenage self could "never have imagined the future that lay ahead".

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

Later he permitted the installation of a small hunter’s cabin.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Related Words

• base
• establishment
• machinery
• plant
• station
• system
• wiring