institutional

institutional — adjective

1. connected with the systems, rules, or structures of a large organization such as

1.形容詞B2
釋義

connected with the systems, rules, or structures of a large organization such as a university, hospital, bank, or government department

例句

Aylin had to complete several institutional forms before her university application could be processed.

collocation: institutional forms / institutional policies

The hospital's institutional guidelines require staff to wash their hands before entering a patient room.

collocation: institutional guidelines

同義詞
  • organizational

    broader in meaning; can refer to any organized group, not necessarily a large one

  • systemic

    focuses on the system as a whole rather than the organization itself

  • structural

    emphasizes the underlying framework of rules and relationships

反義詞
  • individual

    relating to one person rather than the organization

文法句型

institutional + noun

用法筆記

The noun modified by 'institutional' in this sense is usually an abstract concept — policy, framework, support, approval, change — rather than a physical object. Unlike Sense 2, this meaning carries no negative connotation.

常見錯誤

❌My doctor gave me some institutional medical advice.
✅The hospital has institutional policies for patient safety.
💡'institutional' describes the organization's systems and structures, not the personal actions of individuals within it.

2. having the plain, uniform, or impersonal qualities that people often associate w

2.形容詞B2
釋義

having the plain, uniform, or impersonal qualities that people often associate with large institutions, especially hospitals, prisons, or care homes

例句

Prison walls painted a dull institutional gray made the hallways feel cold and unwelcoming.

collocation: institutional gray / institutional green (colour)

Trang found the cafeteria food bland and institutional — every dish tasted the same.

collocation: institutional food

同義詞
  • impersonal

    focuses on the lack of personal warmth or individual attention

  • uniform

    emphasizes the sameness and lack of variety

  • standardized

    highlights the regulated, one-size-fits-all quality

反義詞
  • personal

    warm and individual, the opposite of impersonal institutional care

  • homely

    comfortable and welcoming, opposite of the cold institutional atmosphere

文法句型

institutional + noun

用法筆記

This sense often carries a mildly negative connotation, suggesting something is plain, uniform, or lacking personal warmth. It is most commonly used with nouns like 'food,' 'care,' 'walls,' 'atmosphere,' or 'furniture.'

常見錯誤

❌The hotel rooms had an institutional decor.
✅The prison cells had an institutional look with their gray walls and metal beds.
💡'institutional' in this sense refers to the plain, impersonal style of large care or correctional facilities, not any simple or basic decoration.