institutionalized
UK: ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃənəlaɪzd | US: ˌɪnstɪˈtuːʃənəlaɪzd
adj. 1. (of a practice or custom) Established as a norm within an organization or society.
adj. 2. (of a person) Accustomed to long-term residence in an institution, often to the point of losing independence.
vt. 3. To make something into an institution or establish it formally.
The word traces back to Latin institutio ("arrangement, custom"), from instituere ("to establish"). The root institution evolved in Middle English to denote established systems (e.g., educational or governmental). The suffixes -al (Latin -alis) and -ize (Greek -izein) were added to form adjectives and verbs, respectively. The final -ed marks the past participle, implying a completed action. The term reflects societal shifts toward formalizing practices (e.g., "institutionalized racism") or individuals adapting to rigid structures (e.g., "institutionalized patients").
The practice became institutionalized after decades of tradition.
Long-term prisoners may become institutionalized and struggle with freedom.
The government institutionalized new healthcare policies last year.
Institutionalized discrimination persists in some workplaces.
After years in the orphanage, he felt institutionalized and feared change.