Institutionalising

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The process of making a practice, custom, or organization widely established and accepted as a standard system
2. Acting to formally establish and integrate a method or practice as part of official structures or norms
3. Creating a formal, recognized framework within which ideas, procedures, or organizations become standard and routine

Etymology: "Institutionalising" is the British spelling of "institutionalizing," the present participle and gerund of "institutionalise," which means to turn something into an established, official practice or part of an organisation's structure. The verb builds on "institution," itself from Latin "institutio," meaning an arrangement, instruction or establishment, from "instituere," to set up or establish. The root combines "in-" with "statuere," to set or place, so the core idea is something set firmly in place. The suffix "-ise" (or "-ize") turns a noun into a verb meaning to make or cause to become that thing, so "institutionalise" means to make something an institution. Over time the sense has shifted from building an actual organisation toward something more abstract: a practice, habit or prejudice can become institutionalised without any formal body being created, as when a way of doing things becomes so embedded that it is no longer questioned.

Synonyms: establishing, organizing

Antonyms: dismantling