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institutionalist

American  
[in-sti-too-shuhn-uhl-ist] / ˌɪn stɪˈtu ʃən əl ɪst /

noun

  • institutionalists
    plural
  1. person who believes in or advocates for institutionalism.


adjective

  1. of or relating to institutionalism.

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Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

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:

“That’s a fair point,” he says, but he insists he isn’t an institutionalist.

From The Wall Street Journal Jan. 2, 2026

The institutionalist in him knows that, under the Constitution, the Senate’s power to confirm nominees is equal to a president’s in naming them.

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 28, 2024

It is a solidly conservative, respectable, and institutionalist publication that has been published, in one form or another, since 1843.

From Salon Dec. 5, 2023

In addition, as Rodgers explained, Garland’s decision as an institutionalist was less about Trump than it was about the department’s role defending the office of the presidency.

From Slate Jul. 13, 2023

The institutionalist, however, may reply that he by no means admits the validity of Sabatier's antithesis between religions of authority and the religion of the Spirit.

From Outspoken Essays by William Ralph Inge

Thomas didn’t specify whom he was referring to, leaving court watchers to wonder whether he had his own branch of government in mind, given that some other justices are often described as institutionalists or pragmatists.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 18, 2026

But now even institutionalists, who have been hesitant to damage what they see as the legitimacy of the Supreme Court, are arguing something must now be done.

From Salon May 23, 2024

It also helped that both are self-described institutionalists: people who fundamentally believe in our government and political system and want to see them function better than they have in recent years.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 2, 2023

It has been a trying moment for the so-called institutionalists of the Senate, members with a particular attachment to the body’s rituals and norms.

From New York Times Mar. 31, 2017

But Barry was wrong in saying they weren't institutionalists; they were.

From Dangerous Ages by Dame Rose Macaulay

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