institutionalization

American  

[in-sti-too-shuh-nl-ahy-zey-shuhn, -tyoo-] / ˌɪn stɪˌtu ʃə nlˌaɪˈzeɪ ʃən, -ˌtyu- /

noun

1. the act or process of establishing a group, movement, program, etc., as a permanent and publicly recognized entity for the promotion of a particular cause.

   The study measures the level of institutionalization of 28 African political parties based on four dimensions: roots in society, level of organization, autonomy, and coherence.

   The introduction of clearly designated offices of leadership, like elders and bishops, marked a growing institutionalization of the church.

2. the process of making a principle or pattern of behavior into a normative policy or practice perpetuated in public establishments such as schools, courts, legislative bodies, etc..

   We are committed to the institutionalization of racial and gender equality.

3. the act or practice of placing a person into a care facility, as for elderly people or those with mental illness, addiction, disabilities, etc..

   The downside is that institutionalization severely limits a person's ability to interact with family and friends, to work, and to participate in community life.

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Other Word Forms

• reinstitutionalization noun

Etymology

Origin of institutionalization

institutionaliz(e) ( def. ) + -ation ( def. )

Example Sentences

Rather, we have opened the space for it to be replaced by the institutionalization of norm-breaking itself.

From Salon • Jan. 24, 2026

The third piece of the Cicero platform is to expand civil commitment laws, which permit the involuntary hospitalization or institutionalization of people with mental illnesses.

From Slate • Jan. 22, 2025

Shorting the program will result in “unnecessary institutionalization of thousands of Californians,” it said.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 1, 2023

Her uncle took the secret of his mother’s institutionalization to his grave, Arnold said.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 27, 2023

Legal rulings empowered people with developmental disabilities to refuse treatment and created rights for the mentally disabled that made forced institutionalization much less common.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson