anstalten

Anstalt is a German noun meaning an institution or establishment, especially a formal organization established by public or private authorities to perform a function. The feminine noun die Anstalt, plural die Anstalten. The sense ranges from administrative bodies to facilities and social welfare organizations. The word is often used as the second element of compound terms, which specify the function, for example: Krankenanstalt (hospital or medical facility), Bildungsanstalt (educational institution), Waisenanstalt (orphanage, historical), Kunst- oder Kulturanstalt (arts or cultural institution), Justizvollzugsanstalt (correctional facility/prison), Untersuchungshaftanstalt (pre-trial detention center). The historical term Irrenanstalt denotes a mental asylum; many such terms are now considered outdated or pejorative and have been replaced by more specific or modern designations.

Origin: The term derives from Old High German or Middle High German elements meaning to establish or set up; the noun refers to the thing that has been established—the establishment itself.

Usage notes: In contemporary German, Anstalt is still widely used in official, administrative, and legal language, especially within long compound nouns. In everyday speech, speakers often prefer more precise words like Einrichtung, Institution, or specific facility names.