an association organized to promote art or science or education
"After years of working in a gallery, she decided to join the institute dedicated to preserving local folk arts."
An organization founded to promote a cause
"The local community decided to institute a new charity dedicated to protecting endangered species."
In plain English: An institute is an organization that focuses on research or education in a specific field.
"The university is known for its famous institute of technology."
Usage: Use "institute" as a noun to refer to an independent organization established to conduct research or advance a specific cause, such as a medical institute. Do not use it to mean a school or university, which should be called a "school," "college," or "university."
set up or lay the groundwork for
"establish a new department"
To begin or initiate (something); to found.
"The city decided to institute a new recycling program last month."
In plain English: To institute something means to officially start or put a new rule, system, or practice into effect.
"The university decided to institute a new policy for late homework submissions."
Usage: Use "institute" when you mean to formally start a process, rule, or investigation, such as instituting new safety measures or instituting legal proceedings. Avoid using it simply to mean "begin" in casual contexts where words like "start" or "initiate" are more natural.
Established; organized; founded.
"The university decided to institute a new program for first-year engineering students next semester."
"The new institute policy requires all students to wear uniforms."
Usage: Use "institute" only as a verb to mean establishing or organizing something; it is not used as an adjective in standard English. If you need an adjective meaning established, choose words like "institutional," "established," or "formal."
The word institute comes from the Old French institut, which was borrowed directly from the Latin īnstitūtum. It entered English with its original sense of an established organization or system for teaching and training.