Establishment Meaning
/ɪˈstæblɪʃmənt/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe act or process of establishing; a ratifying or ordaining; settlement; confirmation.
nounThe state of being established, founded, etc.; fixed state.
Sentence Examples
The reformers were subject to every attack from the Establishment.
This establishment attracts a clientele of both tourists and businessmen.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The founding of the university marked the ____ of a prestigious academic institution.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ of the new university was celebrated with a grand opening ceremony.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English *establishment, stablishment, stablisshement, from Old French establissement (Modern French établissement), from the verb establir. Equivalent to establish + -ment.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same."
— 1787, Article Seven of the United States Constitution:
"But there is also real opposition to Nato expansion - and even to Nato's continued existence after the Cold War.
This is a view shared by a very large part of Russia's military and foreign affairs establishment."
— 2002 November 22, Steven Eke, “Russia's rocky relationship with Nato”, in BBC World Service:
"Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic who still resists the idea that something drastic needs to happen for him to turn his life around. Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become. When a series of bank failures made this impossible, there was widespread anger, leading to the public humiliation of symbolic figures."
— 2013 June 28, Joris Luyendijk, “Our banks are out of control”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 3, page 21:
"The verdict means more upheaval for Thailand’s already turbulent political landscape, in which those pushing for change have frequently run afoul of the establishment – a small but powerful clique of military, royalist and business elites."
— 2024 August 14, “Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin removed from office in shock court ruling”, in CNN:
"This story of how American originality lost its way is arresting and well told. On an alternate timeline without Donald Trump in office dismantling the American scientific establishment and Elon Musk kneecapping the American state, it might have been the manifesto of a new politics."
— 2025 March 18, Samuel Moyn, “Can Democrats Learn to Dream Big Again?”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, archived from the original on 27 Mar 2025:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The founding of the university marked the ____ of a prestigious academic institution.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ of the new university was celebrated with a grand opening ceremony.