institutional

[in-sti-too-shuh-nl, -tyoo-]

adjective

1. of or relating to organized establishments, foundations, societies, or the like, or to the buildings they occupy.

   The association offers an institutional membership discount to members of affiliated groups.

2. of the nature of an established organization or institution.

   institutional bureaucracy.

3. relating to or noting a policy, practice, or belief system that has been established as normative or customary throughout an institution or society, particularly as perpetuated in institutions of a public character, as schools, courts, or legislative bodies: institutional sexism in academia;

   institutional racism in the criminal justice system;

   institutional sexism in academia;

   institutional prejudice against members of the gay community.

4. characterized by the blandness, drabness, uniformity, and lack of individualized attention attributed to large institutions that serve many people.

   institutional food.

5. (of advertising) having as the primary object the establishment of goodwill and a favorable reputation rather than the immediate sale of the product.

6. relating to established principles or institutes, especially of jurisprudence.

institutional

/ ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃənəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of institutions

2. dull, routine, and uniform

   institutional meals

3. relating to principles or institutes, esp of law

Other Word Forms

• institutionally adverb
• anti-institutional adjective
• anti-institutionally adverb
• interinstitutional adjective
• interinstitutionally adverb
• noninstitutional adjective
• noninstitutionally adverb
• uninstitutional adjective
• uninstitutionally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of institutional¹

First recorded in 1610–20; institution + -al ¹

Example Sentences

It is one of many using civil rights law to claim that the Constitution is colorblind and any institutional practice or program dedicated to leveling the playing field for non-white people discriminates against white people.

From Salon

A report has found evidence of sexism, misogyny and violence against women within Police Scotland at both institutional and individual level.

From BBC

The museum said it relied on the documents provided by Mr Cohen and that the inclusion of his paintings in its exhibition "should not be interpreted as institutional validation of their authorship or authenticity".

From BBC

But that, of course, is the slippery pleasure of “Relay,” which pits individuals against venal institutional might.

From Los Angeles Times

Slim margins create legislative and institutional uncertainty that has very real consequences for how Congress is run and how policy gets made.

From Salon