institutionalism

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

noun
  1. the system of institutions or organized societies devoted to public, charitable, or similar purposes.

  2. strong attachment to established institutions, as of religion.

  1. the policy or practice of using public institutions to house and care for people considered incapable of caring for themselves.

  2. the belief or policy that a church must maintain institutions of education, welfare, etc., for its members.

Origin of institutionalism

1
First recorded in 1860–65; institutional + -ism

Other words from institutionalism

  • in·sti·tu·tion·al·ist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use institutionalism in a sentence

  • But Barry was wrong in saying they weren't institutionalists; they were.

    Dangerous Ages | Rose Macaulay

British Dictionary definitions for institutionalism

institutionalism

/ (ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃənəˌlɪzəm) /


noun
  1. the system of or belief in institutions

Derived forms of institutionalism

  • institutionalist, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012