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Webster 1913 Edition

Institution

Inˊsti-tu′tion

,
Noun.
[L.
institutio
: cf. F.
institution
.]
1.
The act or process of instituting; as:
(a)
Establishment; foundation; enactment;
as, the
institution
of a school
.
(b)
Instruction; education.
[Obs.]
Bentley.
(c)
(Eccl. Law)
The act or ceremony of investing a clergyman with the spiritual part of a benefice, by which the care of souls is committed to his charge.
Blackstone.
2.
That which instituted or established
; as:
(a)
Established order, method, or custom; enactment; ordinance; permanent form of law or polity.
(b)
An established or organized society or corporation; an establishment, especially of a public character, or affecting a community; a foundation;
as, a literary
institution
; a charitable
institution
; also, a building or the buildings occupied or used by such organization;
as, the Smithsonian
Institution
.
(c)
Anything forming a characteristic and persistent feature in social or national life or habits.
We ordered a lunch (the most delightful of English
institutions
, next to dinner) to be ready against our return.
Hawthorne.
3.
That which institutes or instructs; a textbook; a system of elements or rules; an institute.
[Obs.]
There is another manuscript, of above three hundred years old, . . . being an
institution
of physic.
Evelyn.

Webster 1828 Edition

Institution

INSTITU'TION

,
Noun.
[L. institutio.]
1.
The act of establishing.
2.
Establishment; that which is appointed, prescribed or founded by authority,and intended to be permanent. Thus we speak of the institutions of Moses or Lycurgus. We apply the word institution to laws, rites, and ceremonies, which are enjoined by authority as permanent rules of conduct or of government.
3.
A system, plan or society established, either by law or by the authority of individuals for promoting any object, public or social. We call a college or an academy, a literary institution; a bible society, a benevolent or charitable institution; a banking company and an insurance company are commercial institutions.
4.
A system of the elements or rules of any art or science.
5.
Education; instruction.
His learning was not the effect of precept or institution.
6.
The act or ceremony of investing a clerk with the spiritual part of a benefice, by which the care of souls is committed to his charge.

Definition 2024

Institution

Institution

See also: institution

German

Noun

Institution f ‎(genitive Institution, plural Institutionen)

  1. institution

Declension

Synonyms

institution

institution

See also: Institution

English

Noun

institution ‎(plural institutions)

  1. A custom or practice of a society or community.
    The institution of marriage is present in many cultures but its details vary widely across them.
  2. An organization similarly long established and respected, particularly one involved with education, public service, or charity work.
    The University of the South Pacific is the only internationally-accredited institution of higher education in Oceania.
  3. The building or buildings which house such an organization.
    He's been in an institution since the crash.
  4. (informal) Other places or businesses similarly long established and respected.
    Over time, the local pub has become something of an institution.
    • 2009 February 19, Gareth Lewis, Southern Daily Echo:
      "They have turned a great old English institution into a shameful clip-joint. It's a shuddering, howling tragedy."
  5. (informal) A person similarly long established in a place, position, or field.
    She's not just any old scholar; she is an institution.
  6. The act of instituting something.
    The institution of higher speed limits was a popular move but increased the severity of crashes.
  7. (obsolete) That which institutes or instructs, particularly a textbook or system of elements or rules.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Danish

Etymology

From Latin institutio.

Noun

institution c (singular definite institutionen, plural indefinite institutioner)

  1. institution

Inflection

Derived terms

  • institutionalisere
  • institutionalisering
  • institutionel
  • institutionsbarn
  • institutionskøkken
  • institutionsophold
  • institutionsplads
  • institutionspræg
  • institutionstakst
  • uddannelsesinstitution
  • undervisningsinstitution

References

French

Etymology

From Latin institutionem (accusative of institutio).

Noun

institution f ‎(plural institutions)

  1. institution

Swedish

Noun

institution c

  1. an institution (an established organization)
  2. an institution (a habit)
  3. an institution (a person)
  4. a department (at a university)
    datavetenskapliga institutionen
    department of computer science
    institutionen för fysik
    department of physics

Declension

Inflection of institution 
Singular Plural
Indefinite Definite Indefinite Definite
Nominative institution institutionen institutioner institutionerna
Genitive institutions institutionens institutioners institutionernas

Related terms

Etymology

From Latin īnstitūtiō.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [ʔɪnstituˈtsi̯oːn]

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