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Definition of personalize

personalize

/ˈpɜːr.sə.nə.laɪz/
(UK: personalise)
per · son · al · ize
Adjective:personalized
•
Past Simple:personalized
•
Past Participle:personalized
•
Present Participle:personalizing
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personalize Lexical Profile

personalize Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To design, tailor, or modify something to meet the specific needs, preferences, or characteristics of a particular individual.

Example

"The educational platform uses adaptive algorithms to personalize the reading curriculum for each student."

2

To mark or engrave an object with a person's name, initials, or distinctive emblem to indicate ownership or create a keepsake.

Example

"They decided to personalize the leather journals by embossing each recipient's initials on the front cover."

3

To frame an issue, debate, or critique in terms of specific individuals or personal feelings rather than objective principles.

Example

"A skilled mediator encourages participants to focus on the underlying policy dispute rather than personalize the disagreement."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for personalize
Antonyms
View all antonyms for personalize

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse 'personalize' (to tailor something to an individual's preferences or mark it with their name) with 'personify' (to represent an abstract quality in human form or serve as the embodiment of a trait).

• Rhymes for personalize

• Nearby Words

personal
personality
personalization
personalize
personally
personals
personhood

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the early 18th century from the adjective 'personal' and the verb-forming suffix '-ize', ultimately tracing back to the Latin 'personalis', meaning 'relating to an individual person'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Personalize. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/personalize
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