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

For all of them, ideology trumped institutionalism.

From Washington Post

Roberts is at their mercy, and they are leaving his purported commitment to institutionalism in shambles.

From Los Angeles Times

“We can be bolder. We can have greater energy. We can do things that are outside the box. This is not the time for institutionalism or incrementalism.”

From Washington Post

Facing an existential threat against something much greater than the Democratic Party, the Democrats have been retreating into the habits that made Trump possible in the first place: hollow institutionalism, intra-party recriminations, self-sabotage along Republican attack lines.

From Slate

Sotomayor no doubt hoped that an appeal to institutionalism might activate Roberts as an ally in enlisting Kavanaugh and Barrett, the two justices who have been most receptive to the chief’s overtures, in a campaign to preserve precedent — and the court’s standing with the public.

From Washington Post