Revised 2024
institutionnoun
Factsheet
What does the noun institution mean?
There are 13 meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun institution, three of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
institution has developed meanings and uses in subjects including
How common is the noun institution?
About 100occurrences per million words in modern written English
| 1750 | 33 |
| 1760 | 38 |
| 1770 | 49 |
| 1780 | 54 |
| 1790 | 59 |
| 1800 | 57 |
| 1810 | 61 |
| 1820 | 68 |
| 1830 | 86 |
| 1840 | 90 |
| 1850 | 88 |
| 1860 | 79 |
| 1870 | 72 |
| 1880 | 73 |
| 1890 | 75 |
| 1900 | 77 |
| 1910 | 92 |
| 1920 | 98 |
| 1930 | 110 |
| 1940 | 98 |
| 1950 | 94 |
| 1960 | 110 |
| 1970 | 120 |
| 1980 | 110 |
| 1990 | 110 |
| 2000 | 110 |
| 2010 | 110 |
How is the noun institution pronounced?
British English
/ˌɪn(t)stᵻˈtjuːʃn/
in-stuh-TYOO-shuhn
/ˌɪn(t)stᵻˈtʃuːʃn/
in-stuh-CHOO-shuhn
U.S. English
/ˌɪn(t)stəˈt(j)uʃən/
in-stuh-TYOO-shuhn
Where does the noun institution come from?
Earliest known use
Middle English
The earliest known use of the noun institution is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).
OED's earliest evidence for institution is from before 1424.
institution is of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin.
Etymons: French institution; Latin institūtiōn-, institūtiō.
Nearby entries
- institory, adj.1681–
- institue, v.c1384–1611
- institute, n.¹1482–
- institute, n.²1681–
- institute, adj.c1330–1676
- institute, v.c1451–
- instituted, adj.1535–
- instituter, n.1535–
- instituting, n.a1535–
- instituting, adj.1643–
- institution, n.?a1424–
- institutional, adj.1617–
- institutional economics, n.1898–
- institutional investor, n.1907–
- institutionalism, n.1853–
- institutionalist, n. & adj.1816–
- institutionalization, n.1866–
- institutionalize, v.1861–
- institutionalized, adj.1844–
- institutionalizer, n.1911–
- institutionalizing, n.1883–
Etymology
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Institutional access
Institutional account management
Meaning & use
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Institutional access
Institutional account management
Pronunciation
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Institutional access
Institutional account management
Forms
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Institutional access
Institutional account management
Frequency
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Institutional access
Institutional account management
Compounds & derived words
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Institutional access
Institutional account management
Entry history for institution, n.
institution, n. was revised in December 2024.
institution, n. was last modified in September 2025.
Revision of the OED is a long-term project, and oed.com is a living text, updated every three months. Modifications may include:
- corrections and revisions to definitions, especially to improve clarity, accuracy, or intelligibility;
- new or updated quotation evidence, and reverified or redated bibliographical information;
- new or updated pronunciations (transcriptions and audio files);
- new or revised etymological information and improved coverage of variant spellings;
- new senses or phrases added in print and online updates since OED2 (1989).
Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into institution, n. in September 2025.
Earlier versions of this entry were published in:
OED First Edition (1900)
OED Second Edition (1989)
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Chicago 18
Oxford English Dictionary, “,” , .
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MLA 9
“” Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford UP, , .
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APA 7
Oxford University Press. (n.d.). In Oxford English dictionary. Retrieved , from
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Citation details
Factsheet for institution, n.
Browse entry
Nearby entries
- institory, adj.1681–
- institue, v.c1384–1611
- institute, n.¹1482–
- institute, n.²1681–
- institute, adj.c1330–1676
- institute, v.c1451–
- instituted, adj.1535–
- instituter, n.1535–
- instituting, n.a1535–
- instituting, adj.1643–
- institution, n.?a1424–
- institutional, adj.1617–
- institutional economics, n.1898–
- institutional investor, n.1907–
- institutionalism, n.1853–
- institutionalist, n. & adj.1816–
- institutionalization, n.1866–
- institutionalize, v.1861–
- institutionalized, adj.1844–
- institutionalizer, n.1911–
- institutionalizing, n.1883–
