in·sti·tute
ˈin(t)-stə-ˌtüt 
-ˌtyüt
plural institutes
: something that is instituted: such as
a
: an organization for the promotion of a cause : association
a research institute
b
: an educational institution and especially one devoted to technical fields
c
: a usually brief intensive course of instruction on selected topics relating to a particular field
Teachers attended a summer institute and a series of one-day seminars during the school year.—
Tom Loveless
Tom Loveless
d(1)
: an elementary principle recognized as authoritative
If the students in their first one or two years were taught the institutes of medicine, … it would be perfectly easy to have those subjects taught thoroughly and effectually …—Thomas Henry Huxley
Thomas Henry Huxley
(2)
institutes plural
: a collection of such principles and precepts
especially
: a legal compendium
instituted; instituting
1
a
: to originate and get established : organize
b
: to set going : inaugurate
instituting an investigation
2
: to establish in a position or office
Examples of institute in a Sentence
Noun
They founded an institute for research into the causes of mental illness.
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Verb
By instituting these programs, we hope to improve our children's education.
They have instituted new policies to increase public safety.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026
The institute is sponsored by AI company Glean.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 14 June 2026
That’s in addition to problems like data drift, bias in training data, black swan events, and other things that the panelists touched on in pondering the challenges of instituting these systems in a highly regulated industry.
—John Werner, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for institute
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Noun
The company also says more than 50 robotics teams and research institutes already use the platform.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026
The institute is sponsored by AI company Glean.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Verb
Nelson said his company — a general contractor and developer of homes and apartments — had to institute pay raises of 20% to 30% over a two- or three-year period as a defensive measure.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 14 June 2026
That’s in addition to problems like data drift, bias in training data, black swan events, and other things that the panelists touched on in pondering the challenges of instituting these systems in a highly regulated industry.
—John Werner, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for institute
Cite this Entry
“Institute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/institute. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
institute
1 of 2 verb
in·sti·tute
ˈin(t)-stə-ˌt(y)üt
instituted; instituting
1
: to set up : establish
instituted a new policy
2
: to set going : begin
institute an investigation
institute
2 of 2 noun1
: a basic principle
2
a
: an organization for the support of a cause : association
an institute for scientific research
b
: a place for study usually in a special field
an art institute
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