51Թ

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View synonyms for

establishment

[ ih-stab-lish-muhnt ]

noun

  1. the act or an instance of establishing.
  2. the state or fact of being established.
  3. something established; a constituted order or system.
  4. Often the Establishment.
    1. the existing power structure in society; the dominant groups in society and their customs or institutions; institutional authority:

      The Establishment believes exploring outer space is worth any tax money spent.

    2. the dominant group in a field of endeavor, organization, etc.:

      the literary Establishment.

  5. a household; place of residence including its furnishings, grounds, etc.
  6. a place of business together with its employees, merchandise, equipment, etc.
  7. a permanent civil, military, or other force or organization.
  8. an institution, as a school, hospital, etc.
  9. the recognition by a state of a church as the state church.
  10. the church so recognized, especially the Church of England.
  11. Archaic. a fixed or settled income.


establishment

1

/ ɪˈæɪʃəԳ /

noun

  1. the act of establishing or state of being established
    1. a business organization or other large institution
    2. the place where a business is carried on
  2. the staff and equipment of a commercial or other organization
  3. the approved size, composition, and equipment of a military unit, government department, business division, etc, as formally promulgated
  4. any large organization, institution, or system
  5. a household or place of residence
  6. a body of employees or servants
  7. modifier belonging to or characteristic of the Establishment; orthodox or conservative

    the establishment view of history

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Establishment

2

/ ɪˈæɪʃəԳ /

noun

  1. the Establishment
    a group or class of people having institutional authority within a society, esp those who control the civil service, the government, the armed forces, and the Church: usually identified with a conservative outlook
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • ԴDz··ٲ··Գ noun adjective
  • ··ٲ··Գ noun
  • ···ٲ··Գ noun
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of establishment1

First recorded in 1475–85, and in 1920–25 establishment fordef 4a; establish + -ment
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Patrick, 35, is an amateur rider as a sideline to being his father's assistant at a training establishment in County Carlow that stands head and shoulders ahead of its jump racing rivals.

From

Like the rest of the country, downtown Los Angeles saw many of its beloved establishments close their doors for good during the pandemic.

From

As I say in my book, we have our own homegrown authoritarian tradition rising from this period and the establishment of racial apartheid in the South.

From

Through his belligerence, Yoon has turned himself into a political martyr for many – the victim of an establishment that has been overrun by "communists".

From

Over 100 people crammed into the sweltering Vacation Bar to celebrate him, while the establishment’s hipster regulars quizzically looked on.

From

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More About Establishment

What does establishment mean?

Establishment commonly refers to the official start or founding of something, such as a law, business, or other organization, as in It has been 200 years since the establishment of this great nation.

It is the noun form of the verb establish, which has many meanings but most commonly means to found, institute, or bring into being.

Things that have been established are called establishments, especially businesses, as in I try to buy from local establishments whenever possible.

Establishment is also used more specifically to refer collectively to the existing power structure in a society and its dominant institutions, as in That kind of radical thinking is frowned upon by the establishment. This use is often negative. It can also be used in a similar way to refer to the dominant group in a particular field, as in the medical establishment. In both of these cases, Establishment is often capitalized.

Where does ٲ󳾱Գcome from?

The first records of establishment come from the late 1400s. It is the noun form of the verb establish, which comes from the Old French establir, from the Latin ٲī, meaning “to make firm.” This comes from the Latin stabilis, which means “stable” and is the basis of the word stable.

The word establishment usually applies to things that are stable, lasting, and often permanent. The establishment of a law is its official adoption. The establishment of an organization is its founding.

When establishment is used to refer to a company, it often means a small business—like the kind that has Established 1992 on its sign or front window to show how long it’s been in business.

When people talk about the Establishment, they’re referring to the powers that be—the established institutions and authorities. When used in this way, it’s most often used negatively to criticize such powers. This sense of the word is often used more narrowly to refer to the dominant group in a particular field, as in the political establishment or the literary establishment. Such uses are not necessarily negative. Establishment can also be used as an adjective to describe related things, as in establishment thinking.

Much more specifically, establishment can refer to a country’s recognition of a church as the official state church. People who support this are called establishmentarians. Those who want church and state to be separate are called disestablishmentarians. Those who oppose this separation are called antidisestablishmentarians, and their opposition is called antidisestablishmentarianism (which is a famously long word). Glad we’ve got that established!

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to establishment?

  • establish (verb)
  • nonestablishment (noun)
  • reestablishment (noun)
  • superestablishment (noun)

What are some synonyms for establishment?

What are some words that share a root or word element with establishment?

What are some words that often get used in discussing establishment?

How isٲ󳾱Գused in real life?

The word establishment is very common and used in many contexts. When it refers to the powers that be, it is often used negatively.

Try usingestablishment!

Which of the following terms is NOT a synonym for the Establishment?

A. the powerless
B. the powers that be
C. the dominant institutions
D. the authorities

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