Instatement

Instatement is the act of placing someone in a position or office, typically through formal appointment. It can refer to the official induction of an officeholder and is used in ecclesiastical, legal, and governmental contexts. While closely related to installation and induction, instatement emphasizes the formal transfer of authority and the placing of a person into a role rather than the physical setup of equipment or the start of a term.

Usage of the term is relatively formal and somewhat rare in everyday English. In modern practice, installation or appointment is often preferred, but instatement appears in legal documents, church procedures, and formal descriptions of office transitions. For example, a church may record the instatement of a new rector, or a court document may note the instatement of a judge.

Etymology and nuance: Instatement is derived from the verb instate, meaning to place into a state or position. The word tends to appear in contexts that stress the official act or ceremony of placing someone in office, rather than the broader processes of beginning a term or the logistical aspects of setting up a position. It is commonly contrasted with installation (more general or physical setup) and inauguration or induction (broader or ceremonial aspects).

Related terms include installation, induction, appointment, inauguration, and enthronement. Instatement remains a niche, formal option in English, best used when a precise emphasis on the formal admission to office is intended.