institution

/ˌɪnstɪˈtuʃən/
noun
  1. An organization, such as a school, bank, or hospital, that serves a public purpose.
    • She donated money to a local institution that helps homeless people.
    • Many financial institutions offer online banking services.
    • The university is a respected institution with a long history.
  2. A long-established custom, practice, or law that is important in a society.
    • The institution of democracy relies on free and fair elections.
    • Marriage is an ancient institution found in many cultures.
    • The holiday has become an institution in our family.
  3. The act of starting or introducing something, such as a system or rule.
    • The institution of the new policy caused some confusion at first.
    • The institution of a curfew helped reduce noise in the neighborhood.
    • They celebrated the institution of the annual cleanup day.
What does "institution" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean