adj
Common
institutional
ihn-stih-TYOO-shuh-nuhl
Institutional (adj) means relating to, or typical of, an institution rather than an individual. Example: “The school's institutional rules apply to every pupil, whatever their background.”
adj
1
Relating to, or typical of, an institution rather than an individual.
"The school's institutional rules apply to every pupil, whatever their background."
"The report criticized institutional racism within the department."
"Institutional investors control a huge share of the stock market."
How to use institutional
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBelonging to, or characteristic of, a large formal organization or system.
Common pairings
institutional investor
institutional racism
institutional support
institutional memory
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Word forms
- Plural
- institutionals
- Comparative
- more institutional
- Superlative
- most institutional
Fill the gap
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The school's _____ rules apply to every pupil, whatever their background.
Etymology
Formed from institution and -al.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
noninstitutional
Related words
Rhymes for institutional
coronal
rational
diagonal
personal
seasonal
national
optional
regional
hormonal
hexagonal
fictional
emotional
See all rhymes for 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.
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