Institutionalizing

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The action of embedding practices or ideologies into a structured framework occurs when concepts are firmly integrated into organizations
2. The process of establishing a practice or system as a recognized and accepted part of an organization or society
3. The act of making a procedure or belief formally fixed within an established body or institution

Etymology: The verb "institutionalize" is built from "institutional" plus the suffix "-ize", and the suffix carries most of the verb's history. It descends from ancient Greek "-izein", a verb-forming ending that Latin took as "-izare" and later "-izō". It reached English through Middle French "-iser" and Middle English "-isen", so the English "-ize" is a long-established route for turning nouns and adjectives into verbs of making or doing. The base word "institutional" comes from "institution", itself from Latin "institutio", meaning an establishing or instruction. The verb therefore sits at the end of a chain that moves from the idea of setting something up to the idea of turning a practice into a formal, recognised arrangement. "Institutionalizing" is simply the present participle form of this verb, describing the act of making something officially established.