in·sti·tute
ˈin(t)-stə-ˌtüt 
-ˌtyüt
: something that is instituted: such as
a
: an organization for the promotion of a cause : association
a research institute
an institute for the blind
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
an urban studies institute
d(1)
: an elementary principle recognized as authoritative
(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
Rae Ellen Bichell and Rachana Pradhan, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2025
But the creature the institute caught on video was a footlong juvenile.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
Phoebe Natanson, ABC News, 21 Apr. 2025
The Latin Mass, which was formalized by Pope St. Pius V in 1570 and continues to be practiced by some Catholics today, has several key differences from the more common Vatican II mass, which was instituted in 1969.
—Peter Pinedo, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for institute
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Noun
After pushback from the university — the institute’s projects included work to reduce health care disparities between rural and urban areas — the NIH restored its grant March 29.
—Rae Ellen Bichell and Rachana Pradhan, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2025
But the creature the institute caught on video was a footlong juvenile.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
The process by which a new pope is elected has undergone numerous changes in the nearly two millennia that the Catholic Church has existed, with the current procedure a combination of ancient traditions and modern updates as recent as 2013, reflecting changes instituted by Pope Benedict XVI.
—Phoebe Natanson, ABC News, 21 Apr. 2025
The Latin Mass, which was formalized by Pope St. Pius V in 1570 and continues to be practiced by some Catholics today, has several key differences from the more common Vatican II mass, which was instituted in 1969.
—Peter Pinedo, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for institute
Cite this Entry
“Institute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/institute. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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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