institutionalproblem
nounUK /ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃənəl ˈprɒbləm/
US /ˌɪnstɪˈtuːʃənəl ˈprɑːbləm/
A problem that comes from the way a big group or organization is set up and run.
The school's slow lunch line was an institutional problem, not the fault of any one teacher.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A difficulty caused by rules and habits inside an organization rather than by individual people.
The hospital's long waiting times were an institutional problem that no single doctor could fix.
3. A repeated failure in how a group makes decisions or treats people.
The report described the unfair treatment as an institutional problem in the company.
4. A challenge that needs changing the whole system, not just one part.
Fixing the broken bus schedule was an institutional problem that took months to solve.