Pronunciation: ( ˌ )d ē - ˌ in(t)-st ə - ˌ tü-sh ə -n ə -l ə - ' z ā -sh ə n, - ˌ tyü-
Function: noun
Date: 1955
1 : the release of institutionalized individuals from institutional care (as in a psychiatric hospital) to care in the community
2 : the reform or modification of an institution to remove or disguise its institutional character
– de · in · sti · tu · tion · al · ize \ - ' tü-sh ə -n ə - ˌ l ī z, - ' tyü- \ transitive verb