Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Installation has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
the act of installing something (as equipment)
"the telephone installation took only a few minutes"
a building or place that provides a particular service or is used for a particular industry
"the assembly plant is an enormous facility"
a formal entry into an organization or position or office
"his initiation into the club"
"he was ordered to report for induction into the army"
"he gave a speech as part of his installation into the hall of fame"
An act of installing.
"The installation of the new software took longer than expected because of a driver conflict."
In plain English: An installation is the process of setting up equipment or software so it works properly.
"The new security software installation took longer than expected."
Usage: Use "installation" to refer to the process of setting up equipment or software, or to describe a physical structure like an art exhibit or military base. Avoid using it when you simply mean the result of an installation, such as the software itself, which should be called an "install."
The word comes from the Old French installer, which was borrowed from Medieval Latin and originally meant "to set up" or "establish." It entered English in the 17th century to describe the formal process of putting someone into a position of authority or installing equipment.