instate

Instate is a verb meaning to place someone in a position or office, to install, or to establish someone or something in a particular role or state. It is used chiefly in formal or official contexts, such as government, religious institutions, or academia. A person may be instated as governor, bishop, dean, or president, and policies or laws can be instated as well. The past tense is instated, and the noun instatement is uncommon, with installation or induction as often-preferred alternatives.

In practice, instating conveys a ceremonial or authoritative sense of installation. It is commonly found in phrases like instated in office or instated as, and it is often close in meaning to appoint, install, inaugurate, or induct—though instate can carry a more formal or solemn nuance.

In-state is a separate, hyphenated adjective or adverb. It refers to residency or affiliation with one’s home state, and is widely used in contexts such as in-state tuition or in-state residents. It contrasts with out-of-state and is not related to the verb instate.

Etymology generally traces instate to the prefix in- combined with state, reflecting the notion of placing someone or something within a state, condition, or office. Related terms include install, appoint, inaugurate, induct, and instatement. The word is most common in formal writing and institutional contexts.