deinstitutionalization
noun
de·in·sti·tu·tion·al·i·za·tion
(ˌ)dē-ˌin(t)-stə-ˌtü-shə-nə-lə-ˈzā-shən 
-ˌtyü-
1
: the release of institutionalized individuals from institutional care (as in a psychiatric hospital) to care in the community
2
: the reform or modification of an institution to remove or disguise its institutional character
Examples of deinstitutionalization in a Sentence
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This dovetailed with a larger deinstitutionalization movement that argued that federal money for mental health and addiction care should be shifted to local communities.
—
TIME, 10 Feb. 2025
Newspaper headlines describe the deinstitutionalization of mental health facilities and the privatization of SROs.
—Mara Hoberman, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2025
The late 1970s and early 1980s are remembered for deinstitutionalization — the well-meaning movement to send people with mental illness out of hospitals and into society.
—Dan Rodricks, Baltimore Sun, 29 Nov. 2024
By the 1970s, SROs were regularly vilified in the media, despite still serving as crucial housing for hundreds of thousands of people, including those with mental illness who were booted from the deinstitutionalization of asylums.
—Rachel M. Cohen, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
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TIME, 10 Feb. 2025
Newspaper headlines describe the deinstitutionalization of mental health facilities and the privatization of SROs.
—Mara Hoberman, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2025
The late 1970s and early 1980s are remembered for deinstitutionalization — the well-meaning movement to send people with mental illness out of hospitals and into society.
—Dan Rodricks, Baltimore Sun, 29 Nov. 2024
By the 1970s, SROs were regularly vilified in the media, despite still serving as crucial housing for hundreds of thousands of people, including those with mental illness who were booted from the deinstitutionalization of asylums.
—Rachel M. Cohen, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
See all Example Sentences for deinstitutionalization
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Cite this Entry
“Deinstitutionalization.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deinstitutionalization. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
deinstitutionalization
noun
de·in·sti·tu·tion·al·iza·tion
(ˌ)dē-ˌin(t)-stə-ˌt(y)üsh-nə-lə-ˈzā-shən, -ˌt(y)ü-shən-ᵊl-ə-ˈzā-
: the release of institutionalized individuals from institutional care (as in a psychiatric hospital) to care in the community
deinstitutionalize
transitive verb
deinstitutionalized; deinstitutionalizing
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