institutional
6 synonyms and 1 antonym for institutional, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Relating to, or typical of, an institution rather than an individual.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
noninstitutional
How to use institutional
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
institutional investor
institutional racism
institutional support
institutional memory
Etymology
Formed from institution and -al.
Full origin of institutional →Frequently asked questions
What does “institutional” mean?
The word “institutional” means relating to, or typical of, an institution rather than an individual. In plain terms, belonging to, or characteristic of, a large formal organization or system.
How do you pronounce “institutional”?
“Institutional” is pronounced ihn-stih-TYOO-shuh-nuhl (/ˌɪn.stɪˈtju.ʃə.nəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “institutional” in a sentence?
Here is “institutional” used in a sentence: “The report criticized institutional racism within the department.”
What part of speech is “institutional”?
“Institutional” is an adjective.
Is “institutional” a common word?
“Institutional” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between institutional and organizational?
Institutional means relating to, or typical of, an institution rather than an individual, and it often suggests something large, formal, and established. Organizational relates to an organization or to the act of organizing, so it covers structure and planning as well. "Institutional culture" points to the character of an establishment, while "organizational skills" refers to a person's ability to arrange things.
Does institutional have negative connotations?
It can. Because institutional means typical of an institution rather than an individual, it is sometimes used to suggest something impersonal, uniform, or bland, as in "institutional food" or "institutional grey walls." In neutral contexts, such as "institutional support," it simply refers to organizations without any negative shade.
What is institutional knowledge?
Institutional knowledge is the accumulated experience, know-how, and understanding held collectively within an organization rather than by any single individual. The phrase is common in business writing, often in warnings that institutional knowledge is lost when long-serving staff leave without documenting what they know.
