establishment: Meaning and Definition of

es•tab•lish•ment

Pronunciation: (i-stab'lish-munt), [key]
— n.
  1. the act or an instance of establishing.
  2. the state or fact of being established.
  3. something established; a constituted order or system.
  4. (often cap.) the existing power structure in society; the dominant groups in society and their customs or institutions; institutional authority (usually prec. by the): The Establishment believes exploring outer space is worth any tax money spent.
  5. (often cap.) the dominant group in a field of endeavor, organization, etc. (usually prec. by the): the literary Establishment.
  6. a household; place of residence including its furnishings, grounds, etc.
  7. a place of business together with its employees, merchandise, equipment, etc.
  8. a permanent civil, military, or other force or organization.
  9. an institution, as a school, hospital, etc.
  10. the recognition by a state of a church as the state church.
  11. the church so recognized, esp. the Church of England.
  12. a fixed or settled income.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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