institutor

US: (in′sti to̅o̅′tər, -tyo̅o̅′-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•sti•tu•tor  (in′sti to̅o̅′tər, -tyo̅o̅′-), n. 

1. a person who institutes or founds.
2. Religion [Prot. Episc. Ch.] a person who institutes a minister into a parish or church.

Also, instituter. 

• Late Latin institūtor, equivalent. to institū-, stem of instituere to institute + -tor -tor
• 1540–50

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•sti•tute /ˈɪnstɪˌtut, -ˌtyut/   v., -tut•ed, -tut•ing, n. 
v. [~ + object]

1. to set up;
   establish;
   organize:
   The colony quickly instituted rules.
2. to start;
   set in operation;
   initiate:
   He instituted a lawsuit against his old company.

n. [countable]

3. a society, etc., for carrying on a particular work, as of a literary, scientific, or educational character:
   a research institute.

in•sti•tut•er, in•sti•tu•tor, n. [countable] See -stit-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•sti•tute  (in′sti to̅o̅t′, -tyo̅o̅t′), v., -tut•ed, -tut•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to set up;
   establish;
   organize:
   to institute a government.
2. to inaugurate;
   initiate;
   start:
   to institute a new course in American literature.
3. to set in operation:
   to institute a lawsuit.
4. to bring into use or practice:
   to institute laws.
5. to establish in an office or position.
6. Religion [Eccles.] to assign to or invest with a spiritual charge, as of a parish.

n. 

7. a society or organization for carrying on a particular work, as of a literary, scientific, or educational character.
8. the building occupied by such a society.
9. Education
   • Education an institution, generally beyond the secondary school level, devoted to instruction in technical subjects, usually separate but sometimes organized as a part of a university.
   • a unit within a university organized for advanced instruction and research in a relatively narrow field of subject matter.
   • Education a short instructional program set up for a special group interested in a specialized field or subject.
10. an established principle, law, custom, or organization.
11. Law institutes:
    • an elementary textbook of law designed for beginners.
    • (cap.) Also called In′stitutes of Justin′ian. an elementary treatise on Roman law in four books, forming one of the four divisions of the Corpus Juris Civilis.
12. something instituted.

• Latin institūtus past participle of instituere to set, put up, establish, equivalent. to in- in-² + -stitū- (combining form of statū-, stem of statuere to make stand) + -tus past participle suffix
• Middle English 1275–1325