institutionalism

American  

[in-sti-too-shuh-nl-iz-uhm, -tyoo-] / ˌɪn stɪˈtu ʃə nlˌɪz əm, -ˈtyu- /

noun

1. the system of institutions or organized societies devoted to public, charitable, or similar purposes.

2. strong attachment to established institutions, as of religion.

3. the policy or practice of using public institutions to house and care for people considered incapable of caring for themselves.

4. the belief or policy that a church must maintain institutions of education, welfare, etc., for its members.

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institutionalism British  

/ ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃənəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. the system of or belief in institutions

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Other Word Forms

• institutionalist noun

Etymology

Origin of institutionalism

First recorded in 1860–65; institutional + -ism

Example Sentences

Matsumoto stresses the anonymity of modern institutionalism through a proliferation of numbers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025

Boston University School of Law professor Jed Shugerman told Salon that particularly in the most recent Supreme Court term, Roberts has veered from institutionalism.

From Salon • Jul. 31, 2024

This isn’t just ego or narcissism; it is exactly the kind of institutionalism Breyer has expressed over and over throughout his career.

From Slate • Jun. 22, 2021

When Will and Tom visit a Veterans Affairs facility in an early scene, Ms. Granik visually underscores the building’s chilly institutionalism yet also reminds you of the people inside it.

From New York Times • Jun. 28, 2018

Yet the present generation of women has gone through the same preliminary education in schools with its brothers; and many women in high schools and colleges have made a more extended study of political institutionalism.

From Woman in Modern Society by Barnes, Earl