institutionalize

American  

[in-sti-too-shuh-nl-ahyz, -tyoo-] / ˌɪn stɪˈtu ʃə nlˌaɪz, -ˈtyu- /

especially British, institutionalise

verb (used with object)

institutionalized, institutionalizing

1. to make institutional.

2. to make into or treat as an institution.

   the danger of institutionalizing racism.

3. to place or confine in an institution, especially one for the care of mental illness, alcoholism, etc.

---

institutionalize British  

/ ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃənəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. (tr; often passive) to subject to the deleterious effects of confinement in an institution

   a mental patient who was institutionalized into boredom and apathy

2. (tr) to place in an institution

3. to make or become an institution

---

Other Word Forms

• institutionalization noun

Etymology

Origin of institutionalize

First recorded in 1860–65; institutional + -ize

Explanation

To institutionalize someone is to send them to a place where they can be taken care of. Institutionalize also means that something is part of the system. If men are paid more than women, then gender bias has been institutionalized. The verb institutionalize is usually used to talk about committing people to hospitals, nursing homes, or other facilities where they will live and be taken care of in some way. There's another meaning of the word that means "to establish as a regular way of doing things." In this case, a teacher might institutionalize the tradition of ordering pizza for the class once a month; in other words, pizza parties would become a permanent, official part of the school year.

Example Sentences

However, the tolling system would institutionalize rather than solve the friction.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026

“Plans to institutionalize and operationalize the European dimension through exercises and dedicated coordinating bodies will likely be welcomed in Berlin because it gives hope that French nuclear assurances will last beyond Macron’s presidency,” he added.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026

The state’s universities, despite being leaders in the field, have struggled to institutionalize disability scholarship and to hire disabled faculty to teach it.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 10, 2024

"The task is to solidify and institutionalize it," Feldman said.

From Reuters • Oct. 30, 2023

Fourth, Rapid Dominance aims to achieve new levels of operational competence that can virtually institutionalize */"brilliance."

From Shock and Awe — Achieving Rapid Dominance by Wade, James P.

Related Words

• regulate