establishment
noun
es·tab·lish·ment
i-ˈsta-blish-mənt 
1
: something established: such as
a
: a settled arrangement
especially
: a code of laws
c
: a permanent civil or military organization
d
: a place of business or residence with its furnishings and staff
e
: a public or private institution
2
: an established order of society: such as
a
often capitalized
: a group of social, economic, and political leaders who form a ruling class (as of a nation)
b
often capitalized
: a controlling group
the literary establishment
3
a
: the act of establishing
b
: the state of being established
Examples of establishment in a Sentence
the establishment of a business
the establishment of a scientific fact
His novels were disliked by the literary establishment.
Recent Examples on the Web
Foxx has centered her criticism on establishment Democrats circling the wagons for establishment candidates, noting that three senior Democratic members of Congress died within the first six months of Trump’s second term, handing Republicans a larger advantage.
—
Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Thiel had helped found Palantir, which was transforming the American defense establishment by integrating computer operations and simplifying tasks like tracking and destroying enemy targets.
—Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
Entry level candidates can join the deck, engine or steward’s department in an entry-level position by contacting a company or a union hall or training at a maritime academy, college, school or training establishment.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 14 July 2025
Several religious leaders and a leading legal religious protection institute have backed the group's efforts to preserve Oak Flat, one of the Apache people's most sacred sites, in the interest of religious liberty and the First Amendment's establishment clause.
—Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for establishment
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show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Thiel had helped found Palantir, which was transforming the American defense establishment by integrating computer operations and simplifying tasks like tracking and destroying enemy targets.
—Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
Entry level candidates can join the deck, engine or steward’s department in an entry-level position by contacting a company or a union hall or training at a maritime academy, college, school or training establishment.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 14 July 2025
Several religious leaders and a leading legal religious protection institute have backed the group's efforts to preserve Oak Flat, one of the Apache people's most sacred sites, in the interest of religious liberty and the First Amendment's establishment clause.
—Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for establishment
Cite this Entry
“Establishment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/establishment. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
establishment
noun
es·tab·lish·ment
is-ˈtab-lish-mənt
1
: the act of establishing : the state or fact of being established
establishment of a church
establishment of a scientific fact
2
: a place for residence or business
a dry-cleaning establishment
3
: an established order of society
also, often capitalized
: the social, economic, and political leaders of such an order
rebelling against the establishment
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