| 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, esp. one for the care of mental illness, alcoholism, etc. |
institutionalize in·sti·tu·tion·a·lize (ĭn'stĭ-t&oomacr;'shə-nə-līz', -ty&oomacr;'-)
v. in·sti·tu·tion·al·ized, in·sti·tu·tion·al·iz·ing, in·sti·tu·tion·al·iz·es
To place a person in the care of an institution, especially one providing care for the disabled or mentally ill.