institutional

[in-sti-too-shuh-nl, -tyoo-]

adjective

1. of or relating to organized establishments, foundations, societies, or the like, or to the buildings they occupy.

   The association offers an institutional membership discount to members of affiliated groups.

2. of the nature of an established organization or institution.

   institutional bureaucracy.

3. relating to or noting a policy, practice, or belief system that has been established as normative or customary throughout an institution or society, particularly as perpetuated in institutions of a public character, as schools, courts, or legislative bodies: institutional sexism in academia;

   institutional racism in the criminal justice system;

   institutional sexism in academia;

   institutional prejudice against members of the gay community.

4. characterized by the blandness, drabness, uniformity, and lack of individualized attention attributed to large institutions that serve many people.

   institutional food.

5. (of advertising) having as the primary object the establishment of goodwill and a favorable reputation rather than the immediate sale of the product.

6. relating to established principles or institutes, especially of jurisprudence.

institutional

/ ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃənəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of institutions

2. dull, routine, and uniform

   institutional meals

3. relating to principles or institutes, esp of law

Other Word Forms

• institutionally adverb
• anti-institutional adjective
• anti-institutionally adverb
• interinstitutional adjective
• interinstitutionally adverb
• noninstitutional adjective
• noninstitutionally adverb
• uninstitutional adjective
• uninstitutionally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of institutional¹

First recorded in 1610–20; institution + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Several gay people interviewed expressed hope that despite—or perhaps in response to—government headwinds, institutional intransigence and political polarization, speaking out may be getting easier.

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Even if an appeal isn’t possible, some schools may have institutional scholarships or unclaimed aid that can still be awarded — especially when other admitted students decline their spots.

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The clout of local mutual funds and ultra high-net worth individuals has been growing, Pershad added, noting that 2024 was the first time domestic institutional investors had a bigger presence than foreign ones.

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In conferences to decide cases, they’d sometimes pass around whimsical props like a clothespin to signal members to “hold their noses” and vote unanimously to project institutional solidarity.

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But the national mood in the past week has reflected "institutional observance" more than "organic, profound sorrow", according to Pavin.

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