# institutional

/ˌɪnstɪˈtuʃənəɫ/ (US) · /ˌɪnstɪtjˈuːʃənəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/institutional
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. related to an organization

adjective · CEFR B2

related to a large, important organization like a school, hospital, or government office.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. established by a system

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

describing something that is built into a system or society, rather than just being one person's idea.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. large-scale investor

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a large organization, like a bank or insurance company, that invests a lot of money.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The school needs to make some institutional changes.
- Large institutional investors like pension funds hold a significant portion of the company's shares.
- The report highlighted how institutional bias within the legal system can lead to unfair outcomes for minority groups despite the best intentions of individual officers.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.