in‧sti‧tu‧tion W1 AC / ɪnstətjuʃ ə n, ɪnstɪtjuʃ ə n $ -tu- / 名词
1 [可数名词] a large organization that has a particular kind of work or purpose
financial/educational/research etc institution
the government and other political institutions
powerful institutions such as world banks
the Institution of Electrical Engineers
2 [可数名词] an important system of organization in society that has existed for a long time :
social institutions such as the family and religion
the institution of marriage/monarchy etc
The scandal threatened to undermine the institution of the presidency.
3 [可数名词] a building that people are sent to when they need to be looked after, for example old people or children with no parents – often used to show disapproval :
I was determined not to put my mother in an institution.
a mental institution (= for the mentally ill )
4 [不可数名词] when something is started or introduced, especially something relating to the law or politics
institution of
the institution of divorce proceedings
5 be an institution if a person, place, event etc is an institution, they have been an important part of a place for a very long time – often used humorously :
The British pub isn’t just somewhere to drink – it’s an institution.
THESAURUS
organization a group of people, companies, or countries, which is set up for a particular purpose : Greenpeace is an international organization that protects the environment. | the World Health Organization
institution a large important organization such as a bank, church, or university : The University is an important academic institution. | financial institutions such as banks
association an organization for people in a particular profession, sport, or activity, which officially represents its members – often used in names : I met a representative of the National Association of Teachers. | the Football Association
party an organization of people with the same political aims which you can vote for in elections : Which political party do you support? | He voted for the Republican Party’s candidate.
body an important group of people who make the rules and advise people about what should be allowed : the sport’s governing body | The government has set up an advisory body .
club/society an organization for people who share an interest, for example a sport : We belong to a tennis club. | I joined the university film society.
union an organization formed by workers in order to protect their rights : The union ordered its members out on strike.
charity an organization which collects money to help people who are poor, sick etc and does not make any profit for itself : She has raised a lot of money for local charities.
quango British English disapproving an organization set up by the government, which has official power but whose members have not been elected : the amount of money that is wasted on government quangos