installation

installation — noun

1. the job of positioning and attaching a new appliance, machine, or piece of furni

1.nounB1
Definition

the job of positioning and attaching a new appliance, machine, or piece of furniture in its designated spot and confirming that it works as expected

Example

Minh hired a team for the installation of his new kitchen cabinets.

collocation: installation of [item]

The installation of the solar panels took the workers two full days.

Common collocations
  • installation of
  • professional installation
  • installation fee
  • installation team
  • installation manual
  • easy installation
  • permanent installation
Synonyms
  • setup

    less formal; often used for simpler or temporary arrangements

  • mounting

    specifically means attaching to a wall or surface

  • fitting

    focuses on adjusting something into a space, such as a lock or pipe

  • placement

    broader term; putting something somewhere without connecting or configuring

Antonyms
  • removal

    taking something out of position

  • dismantling

    taking apart something that was installed

Grammar Patterns

installation + of + noun phrase

Usage Note

Uncountable use (installation of equipment) is more frequent than countable use (one installation). Countable form refers to a single instance of the process.

Common Mistakes

The installation of the sofa took ten minutes.
The assembly of the sofa took ten minutes.
Furniture that is simply placed without fixing or connecting is assembled or set up, not installed.
We need to make an installation of the new printer.
We need to install the new printer.
The verb form is more natural for everyday actions than the noun form.

2. the steps needed to get a software program working on a computer or mobile devic

2.nounB1
Definition

the steps needed to get a software program working on a computer or mobile device

Example

The installation of the new operating system failed halfway through.

collocation: installation of [software]

Nellie downloaded the app and completed the installation in under two minutes.

Common collocations
  • software installation
  • installation process
  • installation disk
  • installation file
  • installation wizard
  • quick installation
  • clean installation
Synonyms
  • setup

    common in computing contexts; sometimes used interchangeably, but 'setup' can also refer to configuration after the software is loaded

  • deployment

    more formal; used in enterprise IT for rolling out software across many machines

Antonyms
  • uninstallation

    the process of removing software from a device

  • removal

    general term for taking software off a system

Grammar Patterns

installation + of + noun phrase

software + installation

Usage Note

In computing, 'install' (verb) is the everyday word; 'installation' (noun) is more common in technical writing and formal documentation. The opposite process is 'uninstallation'.

Common Mistakes

I did an installation of that photo editor.
I installed that photo editor.
Using the noun form sounds unnatural for single personal-use actions; prefer the verb.
The game needs installation.
The game needs to be installed.
Passive voice with 'needs installation' is less natural in everyday English.

3. a group of buildings and equipment designed for a specific use, especially for t

3.nounB2
Definition

a group of buildings and equipment designed for a specific use, especially for the military or industry

Example

The naval installation near the coast houses over two thousand personnel.

adjective + installation: naval / military / industrial

Kwame works as an engineer at a military installation in the desert.

Common collocations
  • military installation
  • naval installation
  • industrial installation
  • research installation
  • secure installation
  • defence installation
Synonyms
  • facility

    broader term; can refer to any building serving a purpose, not necessarily military or industrial

  • base

    specifically military; implies active personnel and operations

  • plant

    an industrial facility, particularly for manufacturing or processing

  • station

    often used for radar, power generation, or research sites

Grammar Patterns

adjective + installation

Usage Note

In American English, 'military installation' is the standard formal term for any military base, camp, or facility — covering everything from a small outpost to a large air force base. Also used for industrial plants and research centres.

Common Mistakes

The public library is a community installation.
The public library is a community facility.
'Installation' for buildings implies specialized technical equipment or military/industrial purpose.
There is a new installation at the airport.' (ambiguous)
There is a new baggage-handling installation at the airport.
Clarify the type of installation with an adjective.

4. a formal event at which a person is officially appointed to a high-ranking job o

4.nounB2
Definition

a formal event at which a person is officially appointed to a high-ranking job or position

Example

The installation of the new university president took place in the main hall.

collocation: installation of [position title]

Élise attended her aunt's installation as the head of the regional hospital.

Common collocations
  • installation ceremony
  • installation as
  • installation of
  • installation speech
  • formal installation
Synonyms
  • inauguration

    specifically for the start of a political leader's term; often larger in scale than an installation

  • induction

    formal entry into a role or organization; more commonly used for members of societies or academies

  • investiture

    implies the formal conferring of power or authority, often with ceremonial objects such as robes or medals

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

the installation + of + person + as + role

Usage Note

Limited to high-ranking and ceremonial roles — university chancellors, judges, bishops, heads of state, and similar positions. Not used for routine job promotions or managerial appointments.

Common Mistakes

His installation as team leader happened last week.
His promotion to team leader happened last week.
Routine promotions use 'promotion', not 'installation'.
The installation of the new manager.' (too informal)
The installation of the new chancellor.
Save for formal, high-level appointments with a ceremony.

5. a work of modern art created by arranging objects, sounds, light, or digital ele

5.nounB2
Definition

a work of modern art created by arranging objects, sounds, light, or digital elements in a space, often made for a particular location and taken down after the show ends

Example

The museum's new installation combines video projections with recorded bird songs.

collocation: [medium] + installation

Joon spent three hours inside the interactive light installation at the gallery.

Common collocations
  • art installation
  • multimedia installation
  • interactive installation
  • sound installation
  • light installation
  • temporary installation
  • permanent installation
Synonyms
  • exhibit

    broader term; any display of art in a museum or gallery

  • mixed-media work

    describes the technique rather than the format; more specific about materials

  • site-specific work

    emphasizes that the piece is designed for and inseparable from its location

Grammar Patterns

adjective + installation

installation + by + artist

Usage Note

Distinguish from traditional sculpture: installation art is site-specific, often fills a whole room or space, uses multiple media (sound, video, found objects), and is frequently temporary. The artist is called an 'installation artist'.

Common Mistakes

I saw an installation of a marble statue in the park.
I saw an art installation made of recycled plastic bottles and LED lights.
Traditional sculptures are not called 'installations'; the term is reserved for contemporary mixed-media works.
The installation was painted in oil on canvas.
The installation was made of old furniture and photographs glued to the wall.
Installation art is three-dimensional and uses mixed materials, not paint on canvas.

Word family

  • install
    verbB1
  • installer
    nounB2
  • installed
    adjectiveB1
  • reinstall
    verbB1
  • reinstallation
    nounB2
  • uninstall
    verbB1
  • uninstallation
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Installation and setup both refer to putting something in place and making it operational, but installation implies a more permanent or complex process (e.g., installing a boiler), whereas setup can be temporary or simpler (e.g., setting up a projector). Mounting specifically means attaching something to a wall or surface — you mount a TV but install the whole entertainment system. Fitting focuses on adjusting something into a confined space (fitting a lock into a door). Placement is the broadest, simply meaning putting something somewhere without any connecting or configuring. For example: 'The installation of the new air conditioner took three hours' focuses on the full process, while 'The setup of the folding chairs took ten minutes' covers a simpler arrangement.

installation ↗setup ↗mountingfitting ↗placement ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • installation process
  • installation guide
  • installation fee
  • installation team
  • installation date
  • installation cost

Adverbs

  • professionally installed
  • newly installed
  • properly installed
  • permanently installed
  • recently installed

Phrases

  • easy installation
  • professional installation
  • free installation
  • on-site installation
  • DIY installation

Prepositions

  • installation of
  • installation at
  • installation in
  • installation on
  • installation by

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Installation comes from the Latin verb 'installare', meaning 'to place in a stall or seat', which combined the prefix 'in-' (in, into) with 'stallum' (a stall or place). The word originally referred to the formal act of placing someone in an official position or seat of authority — the 'stall' being the ceremonial seat in a church or hall. From this ceremonial sense, the meaning broadened in the 19th century to include putting equipment into place, and later extended to software and art during the 20th century.