institutionalism

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

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the system of institutions or organized societies devoted to public, charitable, or similar purposes.
strong attachment to established institutions, as of religion.
the policy or practice of using public institutions to house and care for people considered incapable of caring for themselves.
the belief or policy that a church must maintain institutions of education, welfare, etc., for its members.

institutionalism

/ ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃənəˌlɪzəm /

First recorded in 1860–65; institutional + -ism

A third question which must be asked is whether institutionalism in practice makes for unity among Christians, or for division.

Lastly, we must ask whether institutionalism is really a spiritual and moral force.

It is not an accident that America, where institutionalism is weakest, is the happy hunting-ground of religious quacks and cranks.

This is partly perhaps the spirit of spontaneous institutionalism in American democracy, breaking out in the wrong place.

We have spoken of the Master's rebukes of any form of institutionalism which stands in the way of human rights.

April 23, 2024inveterate

[in-vet-er-it ]

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