institutionalized — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Having been established as an institution.

   Examples

   It is very difficult to get bureaucracies to abandon their institutionalized practices.

2. Having been committed to an institution, such as a prison or an insane asylum.

   Examples

   Once a potential employer learns that you've been institutionalized, you can forget about getting the job.

3. Having become dependent after a long time in, and unable to function outside of an institution, especially a prison.

Adjective

1. officially placed in or committed to a specialized institution

   Synonyms

   institutionalised

   Antonyms

   noninstitutionalized

   Examples

   had hopes of rehabilitating the institutionalized juvenile delinquents

2. given the character of an institution or incorporated into a structured and usually well-established system

   Synonyms

   institutionalised

   Examples

   institutionalized graft

   institutionalized suicide as practiced in Japan