institution
/ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɪnstɪˈtuːʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌin(t)-stə-ˈtü-shən -ˈtyü-/ (ame, mw)
institution — noun
- institutionsingular
- institutionsplural
1. an important organization that serves society by fulfilling a particular public
an important organization that serves society by fulfilling a particular public role — think of a university educating students, a bank managing money, or a museum showing artworks to the public.
The university has become a respected institution that attracts students from around the world.
adjective + institution describing a type of organization
Ayana opened her first savings account at the largest financial institution in Taipei.
financial institution — common compound noun for banks
Public institutions such as libraries and museums depend on government funding to operate.
Asher works for an institution that provides affordable housing for low-income families.
Several international institutions have set up regional offices in Southeast Asia to coordinate disaster relief.
- organization
broader term; any group of people with a shared purpose, not necessarily large or well-established
- establishment
more formal; emphasizes that the organization is firmly in place
- body
formal term, often used for official or regulatory groups (e.g. 'governing body')
- foundation
focuses on the charitable or grant-making role rather than operational services
文法句型
adjective + institution
institution of + noun
用法筆記
Often modified by an adjective that specifies the type (financial, educational, political, cultural). This is the most frequent sense in everyday English.
常見錯誤
2. a building or facility where people reside to get medical treatment, personal su
a building or facility where people reside to get medical treatment, personal support, or supervision — for instance, a nursing home for older adults, a psychiatric hospital, or a correctional centre.
After breaking his hip, Grandfather was placed in an institution where nurses cared for him.
The judge sentenced the teenager to twelve months at a correctional institution for young offenders.
correctional institution — formal term for prison
Rania visited her aunt every Sunday at the mental health institution outside the city.
Conditions at the institution for elderly people have improved since the new director took charge.
The state-run medical institution offers free dental checkups for children in rural areas.
- facility
neutral and broad; can describe any type of building designed for a specific purpose
- home
warmer tone; used specifically for residential care (nursing home, care home)
- centre
commonly used for rehabilitation centres or treatment centres
- hospital
specific to medical treatment, not long-term care or confinement
文法句型
adjective + institution
institution for + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense carries a formal or official tone. In everyday conversation, speakers usually use a more specific term such as 'nursing home,' 'prison,' 'psychiatric hospital,' or 'care home.' Can be perceived as impersonal or bureaucratic.
常見錯誤
3. a practice or tradition that a society has treated as important for many generat
a practice or tradition that a society has treated as important for many generations and considers a central part of its identity — for instance, the ceremony of a wedding or the custom of celebrating a national holiday.
The institution of marriage in 1960s Japan made Eri live with in-laws and quit work.
institution of marriage — fixed phrase for a long-established social custom
In Japan, the tea ceremony is a cultural institution dating back over four centuries.
cultural institution — tradition viewed as part of a society's identity
Millions voted in South Korea's 1987 election, proving democratic elections had become an institution.
In Spain, the afternoon siesta is a long-standing institution that many people still observe.
Sunday family dinners became an institution in the Rodriguez household when the children were young.
- tradition
more general; emphasises that something has been passed down over time, not necessarily as formalised
- custom
focuses on habitual practice within a group, often less weighty than 'institution'
- practice
neutral term for a repeated way of doing something; can be recent or long-standing
- convention
emphasises accepted social norms, often unwritten
文法句型
institution of + noun (e.g. institution of marriage)
用法筆記
Frequently used in the pattern 'institution of + [social practice]' (e.g., institution of marriage, institution of democracy). The word can also be applied to a family or group tradition (e.g., 'Sunday brunch became an institution in our house').
常見錯誤
4. the official act or process of beginning something new, especially a law, system
the official act or process of beginning something new, especially a law, system, policy, or rule — for instance, when a government puts a new healthcare plan into effect or a company starts a fresh set of procedures.
The institution of the new tax law sparked a lot of debate among business owners.
institution of + law — formal pattern for introducing legislation
Hao supported the institution of a formal complaint system within the company.
The institution of paid parental leave was welcomed by working families across the country.
At the conference, scholars debated the institution of democratic reforms in post-war societies.
- introduction
more common in everyday English; broader in use
- establishment
similar formality; emphasises setting up something permanent
- creation
emphasises the act of bringing something into existence
- implementation
focuses on putting a plan or system into action
- abolition
the act of officially ending a law or system
文法句型
institution of + noun (law, system, reform)
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in formal or academic writing. This is an abstract uncountable sense, so it does not take an article (the institution OF social reform, not *an institution of social reform). In everyday language, 'introduction,' 'establishment,' or 'creation' are more natural alternatives.