es ‧ tab ‧ lish ‧ ment W2 AC /ɪˈstæblɪʃmənt/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ establish ; noun : ↑ establishment ; adjective : ↑ established ]
1 . [countable] formal an organization or institution, especially a business, shop etc:
a top class training establishment
2 . the establishment the group of people in a society or profession who have a lot of power and influence and are often opposed to any kind of change or new ideas:
Young people are supposed to rebel against the Establishment.
the medical/legal/military etc establishment
The public is treated with contempt by the art establishment.
3 . [uncountable] the act of starting an organization, relationship, or system
establishment of
the establishment of NATO in 1949
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 1)
■ adjectives
▪ an educational establishment (=a school, college etc)
It’s a large educational establishment with over 2,000 pupils.
▪ a medical establishment (=a hospital)
New employees must undergo an examination at a medical establishment nominated by the Company.
▪ a nuclear establishment (=a place where electricity is produced from nuclear fuel)
Local people are against having a nuclear establishment on their doorstep.
▪ a catering establishment (=a restaurant, cafe etc)
She runs a successful catering establishment in Leeds.
▪ a modest establishment formal (=a small business, shop etc)
Mineo’s Pizza House is a modest but busy establishment just off the High Street.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ adjectives
▪ the British/American/Spanish etc establishment (=the people who have power in a particular country)
The affair caused acute embarrassment to the British establishment.
▪ the political establishment (=the political rulers)
His resignation stunned the political establishment.
▪ the military/defence establishment
The committee has many political figures who are close to the military establishment.
▪ the scientific establishment
Professor Walker’s views are not shared by the scientific establishment.
▪ the medical establishment
The measures were introduced despite protests from the medical establishment.
▪ the religious/clerical establishment
His teachings were unacceptable to the religious establishment of the time.
▪ the legal establishment
Prominent members of the legal establishment have opposed the bill.
▪ the educational establishment
The proposals sent shock waves throughout the educational establishment.