A social institution is a structured and enduring system of social roles, norms, and relationships organized to meet fundamental societal needs and regulate social behavior. These institutions provide stability, continuity, and order within a society by shaping individual behaviors and maintaining cultural norms and values

. Key characteristics of social institutions include:

• They are stable and persistent over time.
• They serve essential social functions, such as socialization, resource allocation, and maintaining order.
• They consist of organized patterns of behavior and roles.
• They govern expectations and interactions within a community.
• They are embedded in cultural values and norms

Common major social institutions include:

• Family: responsible for reproduction, socialization, and emotional support.
• Education: transmits knowledge, skills, and social values.
• Religion: provides moral guidance and community cohesion.
• Government: establishes laws, enforces social order, and provides security.
• Economy: organizes production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services

Beyond these, other examples include hospitals, legal systems, business corporations, and languages, which also contribute to societal functioning

. In summary, social institutions are foundational structures that organize society, fulfill essential human needs, and sustain social order and cohesion over time.