es|tab|lish|ment

es|tab|lish|ment «ehs TAB lihsh muhnt», noun.

1. the act or process of establishing: »

The establishment of the business took several years.

2. the condition of being established: »

The custom has already achieved establishment.

3. something established. A household, business, church, or army is an establishment.

4. Often, the Establishment. a) the ruling groups or institutions of a country; a nation's power structure: »

If the Establishment means anything, it means big government and big business, and between them they pay most of the bills for big science (Atlantic).

b) the ruling circle of any institution (usually preceded by a modifier): »

A sizable minority of senators tried unsuccessfully to reduce the size and influence of the military establishment by cutting the weapons procurement requests of the Department of Defense (Robert M. Lawrence).

c) conventional society: »

The revival of pearls, downgraded in past years for representing the tired chic of the establishment, was one of the big accessory events... (Ruth Mary DuBois).

5. a) the recognition by the state of a church as the official church. b) a church thus recognized by the state.

6. Usually, the Establishment. the Church of England or the Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

7. a settled income; secure livelihood.

8. settlement in life; steady or permanent position, formerly usually by marriage: »

... their anxiety for the establishment of their daughters (Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton).

9. Obsolete. a settled constitution or government.