Standard Lemma guide

institutionalized

adj · verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • CMU ARPABET: IH2 N S T IH0 T UW1 SH AH0 N AH0 L AY2 Z D Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Having been established as an institution.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • It is very difficult to get bureaucracies to abandon their institutionalized practices.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Having been committed to an institution, such as a prison or an insane asylum.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Once a potential employer learns that you've been institutionalized, you can forget about getting the job.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Having become dependent after a long time in, and unable to function outside of an institution, especially a prison.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: human-sciences, psychology, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

simple past and past participle of institutionalize

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, participle, past

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adjective

Meaning 5

officially placed in or committed to a specialized institution

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • had hopes of rehabilitating the institutionalized juvenile delinquents

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: institutionalised

Antonyms: noninstitutionalized

6

adjective satellite

Meaning 6

given the character of an institution or incorporated into a structured and usually well-established system

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • institutionalized graft
  • institutionalized suicide as practiced in Japan

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: institutionalised

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.