civilize
civilize Lexical Profile
civilize Game Scores & Validity
• verb
American To bring (a place or people) to a stage of social, cultural, and moral development considered to be more advanced.
"Ancient Rome sought to civilize the distant provinces through the introduction of written law and public infrastructure."
American To refine, educate, or polish the manners, tastes, and behavior of (a person or group).
"Sharing meals around a family table helps civilize young children and teaches them patience and courtesy."
Word Nuance & Usage
Spelled 'civilize' in American English and 'civilise' in British English. In historical or anthropological contexts, the term is often used critically due to its association with colonialist ideologies that judged non-Western societies as inferior.
• Rhymes for civilize
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the early 17th century from French civiliser, derived from Medieval Latin civilizare, from Latin civilis ('relating to a citizen'), ultimately from civis ('citizen').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.