Word
institutionalized
Phoneticsin·sti·tu·tion·al·ized
/ˌɪnstɪˈtuʃənəˌɫaɪzd/
UK spelling · institutionalised
Definitions
01systemic or established
adj. describes a practice or belief that has become a permanent, official part of a system or society.
adj. established as a standard practice or norm within an organization, culture, or social system.
“The company struggled to fix the institutionalized sexism that had existed for decades.”
“Sociologists argue that institutionalized racism requires systemic policy changes rather than just individual shifts in attitude.”
Academic
Usage
Often used to describe negative social patterns like racism or corruption that are built into the law or culture.
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Antonyms
02dependent on a facility
adj. describes a person who has lived in a place like a prison or hospital for so long that they cannot cope with life outside.
adj. rendered incapable of independent living due to the psychological effects of long-term residence in an institution.
“After thirty years in prison, he felt institutionalized and was afraid to walk down a normal street.”
“The rehabilitation program aims to support institutionalized patients as they transition back into the complexities of unsupervised daily life.”
Technical
Usage
Commonly used in the context of criminal justice and mental health care.
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Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Jack’s father, Tomáš, has been institutionalised and feels as lost to the boy as his drowned mother.” “What changes is who ends up being more closely monitored, approached by the police and institutionalized.” Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/institutionalized