institutionalists
|in-sti-tu-tion-al-ists|
🇺🇸
/ˌɪnstəˈtuːʃənəlɪsts/
🇬🇧
/ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃ(ə)nəlɪsts/
(institutionalist)
person associated with or emphasizing institutions
Etymology
'institutionalist' originates from English, specifically formed from the adjective 'institutional' + the suffix '-ist', where 'institutional' relates to 'institution' and the suffix '-ist' means 'one who practices or is concerned with'.
'institutionalist' developed from the adjective 'institutional' (late 19th–early 20th century formation) + '-ist'. 'Institutional' comes from 'institution', which passed into English via Old French 'institution' from Latin 'institutio' (from 'instituere', 'to set up'). Over time these elements combined in Modern English to form 'institutionalist'.
Initially, the root referred broadly to 'establishing or setting up' (Latin), then to 'established organizations' (institution). 'Institutionalist' originally meant 'one concerned with institutions'; over time it has come to be used both for supporters of existing institutions and as a label for members of the academic 'institutionalism' school.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
people who support, defend, or favor established institutions or institutional continuity (especially in political or social contexts).
Institutionalists argued that gradual reform within existing structures would be more stable than radical change.
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Noun 2
scholars or proponents of 'institutionalism' — an approach in disciplines (e.g., economics, political science, sociology) that emphasizes the role of institutions, rules, and norms in shaping behavior and outcomes.
Institutionalists in economics focus on how legal frameworks and norms influence market outcomes.
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Last updated: 2025/11/01 11:42