institutionalized adjective3 •Having been established as an institution.It is very difficult to get bureaucracies to abandon their institutionalized practices. •Having been committed to an institution, such as a prison or an insane asylum.Once a potential employer learns that you've been institutionalized, you can forget about getting the job. •Having become dependent after a long time in, and unable to function outside of an institution, especially a prison. formsmore institutionalized · most institutionalized