in ‧ sti ‧ tu ‧ tion W1 AC /ˌɪnstəˈtjuːʃ ə n, ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃ ə n $ -ˈtuː-/ BrE AmE noun
1 . [countable] a large organization that has a particular kind of work or purpose
financial/educational/research etc institution
the government and other political institutions
powerful institutions such as world banks
the Institution of Electrical Engineers
2 . [countable] an important system of organization in society that has existed for a long time:
social institutions such as the family and religion
the institution of marriage/monarchy etc
The scandal threatened to undermine the institution of the presidency.
3 . [countable] a building that people are sent to when they need to be looked after, for example old people or children with no parents – often used to show disapproval:
I was determined not to put my mother in an institution.
a mental institution (=for the mentally ill)
4 . [uncountable] when something is started or introduced, especially something relating to the law or politics
institution of
the institution of divorce proceedings
5 . be an institution if a person, place, event etc is an institution, they have been an important part of a place for a very long time – often used humorously:
The British pub isn’t just somewhere to drink – it’s an institution.
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THESAURUS
▪ organization a group of people, companies, or countries, which is set up for a particular purpose:
Greenpeace is an international organization that protects the environment.
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the World Health Organization
▪ institution a large important organization such as a bank, church, or university:
The University is an important academic institution.
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financial institutions such as banks
▪ association an organization for people in a particular profession, sport, or activity, which officially represents its members – often used in names:
I met a representative of the National Association of Teachers.
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the Football Association
▪ party an organization of people with the same political aims which you can vote for in elections:
Which political party do you support?
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He voted for the Republican Party’s candidate.
▪ body an important group of people who make the rules and advise people about what should be allowed:
the sport’s governing body
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The government has set up an advisory body.
▪ club/society an organization for people who share an interest, for example a sport:
We belong to a tennis club.
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I joined the university film society.
▪ union an organization formed by workers in order to protect their rights:
The union ordered its members out on strike.
▪ charity an organization which collects money to help people who are poor, sick etc and does not make any profit for itself:
She has raised a lot of money for local charities.
▪ quango British English disapproving an organization set up by the government, which has official power but whose members have not been elected:
the amount of money that is wasted on government quangos