Word
institutional
Phoneticsin·sti·tu·tion·al, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɪnstɪˈtuʃənəɫ/
UK/ˌɪnstɪtjˈuːʃənəl/
Definitions
01related to an organization
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. related to a large, important organization like a school, hospital, or government office.
adj. pertaining to or characteristic of an institution, especially in terms of its structure or official nature.
“The hospital had a very institutional feel with its white walls and long, quiet hallways.”
“The report highlighted several institutional failures that prevented the different government departments from sharing vital information effectively.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02established by a system
C1 · Advanced Politics Academic
adj. describing something that is built into a system or society, rather than just being one person's idea.
adj. arising from or established by the long-standing practices and rules of an organization or society.
“The company is trying to change its institutional culture to be more creative.”
“Scholars argue that institutional racism is often harder to combat than individual prejudice because it is embedded in the legal and social framework.”
Synonyms
03large-scale investor
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Law Technical
n. a large organization, like a bank or insurance company, that invests a lot of money.
n. an organization, such as a pension fund or mutual fund, that trades large volumes of securities.
“The stock price rose quickly after several big institutionals started buying shares.”
“The startup's latest funding round was led by a group of prominent institutionals rather than private venture capitalists.”
Usage
Often used as a shortened form of 'institutional investor' in financial contexts.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “institutional” in context.
Verb
01. overcome institutional barriers
“New startups often struggle to overcome institutional barriers when entering the energy market.”
verb + adj + noun
02. provide institutional support
“The university provides institutional support for researchers seeking international grants.”
verb + adj + noun
Adjective
03. deeply institutional
“The bias within the organization was deeply institutional and required a complete cultural shift.”
adv + adj
04. institutional investor
“Institutional investors like pension funds hold a large percentage of the stock market.”
adj + noun
05. institutional memory
“When the senior manager retired, the company lost a significant amount of institutional memory.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. institutional framework for cooperation
“The treaty established an institutional framework for cooperation on environmental issues.”
adj + noun + prep + noun
07. institutional reform
“The government is under pressure to implement institutional reform in the banking sector.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“A shipyard worker who carries cargo for a living, he called the earthquake response evidence of Buenaventura's long history of institutional neglect.” “In July, it announced a plan to give Wall Street firms and institutional investors faster access to posts on Truth Social, where Trump frequently makes announcements.” Word family
ADJECTIVE
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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