establishment
UK: ɪˈstæblɪʃmənt | US: ɪˈstæblɪʃmənt
n. the act or process of establishing something
n. an organization or institution, especially a business or public body
n. the dominant group in a society, often resistant to change
The word "establishment" derives from the Old French establiss- (stem of establir, meaning "to set up"), which in turn comes from Latin stabilire ("to make stable"). The root stabil- (from stare, "to stand") reflects the idea of firmness or permanence. The suffix -ment (from Latin -mentum) converts verbs into nouns denoting the result or means of an action. Over time, "establishment" evolved from the literal sense of "setting up" to metaphorically describe entrenched institutions or societal power structures.
The establishment of the new school took three years.
Many young artists rebel against the cultural establishment.
The restaurant is a well-known establishment in this neighborhood.
The government announced the establishment of a new environmental agency.
Critics argue that the political establishment ignores public demands.