institutionalize

verb in·sti·tu·tion·al·ize \-shnə-ˌlīz, -shə-nə-ˌlīz\

: to cause (a custom, practice, law, etc.) to become accepted and used by many people : to establish (something) as an institution

: to put (someone, such as a mentally ill person) in an institution (sense 1b)

in·sti·tu·tion·al·izedin·sti·tu·tion·al·iz·ing

Full Definition of INSTITUTIONALIZE

transitive verb

: to make into an institution : give character of an institution to <institutionalized housing>; especially : to incorporate into a structured and often highly formalized system <institutionalized values>

: to put in the care of an institution <institutionalize alcoholics>

— in·sti·tu·tion·al·i·za·tion \-ˌtü-shnə-lə-ˈzā-shən, -shə-nə-lə-ˈzā-\ noun

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First Known Use of INSTITUTIONALIZE

1865

Medical Dictionary

institutionalize

transitive verb in·sti·tu·tion·al·ize

in·sti·tu·tion·al·ized or chiefly British in·sti·tu·tion·al·isedin·sti·tu·tion·al·iz·ing or chiefly British in·sti·tu·tion·al·is·ing

Medical Definition of INSTITUTIONALIZE

: to place in or commit to an institution (as a nursing home or hospital) offering specialized care (as for mental illness, substance abuse, or terminal illness)

: to accustom (a person) so firmly to the care and supervised routine of an institution as to make incapable of managing a life outside