institutionalized
word · lemma: institutionalize
Definition
Something made part of an official system, or someone placed long-term in an institution (like a hospital or prison), often becoming dependent on it.
Usage & Nuances
Used in formal and academic contexts. Can refer to systems (e.g., 'institutionalized racism') or to people (e.g., someone spending years in a psychiatric hospital). As slang, may describe someone who can't adjust to life outside an institution. Common confusion: don't use for voluntary membership in organizations.
Example Sentences
She worries her son might get institutionalized if he stays in that facility too long.
natural
He became institutionalized after spending ten years in prison.
basic
These rules are now institutionalized in the company.
basic
The charity helps people who have been institutionalized for many years.
basic
He's so institutionalized that he can't handle living on his own.
natural
Over time, discrimination became institutionalized in the legal system.
natural