anglicize

verb

an·​gli·​cize ˈaŋ-glə-ˌsīz How to pronounce anglicize (audio)
anglicized; anglicizing
often capitalized

transitive verb

1
: to make English in quality or characteristics
2
: to adapt (a foreign word, name, or phrase) to English usage: such as
a
: to alter to a characteristic English form, sound, or spelling
b
: to convert (a name) to its English equivalent
anglicize Juan as John
anglicization noun often capitalized

Examples of anglicize in a Sentence

The cookbook anglicized many exotic dishes to make them easier to prepare.
Recent Examples on the Web And his real name was Pierre Julien Ortiz, often anglicized as Peter J. Ortiz. Katie Sanders, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Apr. 2023 Before the loan can be returned, Graham's poncy, anglicized relative Archibald Cunningham (Tim Roth) kills one of Roy's best men (Eric Stoltz) and makes off with the cash. Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 17 Feb. 2023 Krick has tapped longtime San Antonio musician and recent food entrepreneur Matthew Rose of the Rosey’s Fish And Chips food truck to operate the bar’s kitchen under his own business’s name in a collaborative effort to anglicize the far west end of Houston Street downtown. Paul Stephen, San Antonio Express-News, 13 Apr. 2021 Some of the people who found their way back to the United States anglicized their names. Jasmine Aguilera, Time, 2 Aug. 2019 His grandfather, Nissim Isaac Daoud bin Aziz, anglicized the family name to David and went into business as a date importer. Aimee Levitt, Chicago Reader, 5 Oct. 2017 Dorothy L. Sayers posited that the H stood for Hamish and that Mary Anglicized it into James and used it as a pet name. New York Times, 2 June 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'anglicize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1710, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of anglicize was in 1710

Dictionary Entries Near anglicize

Cite this Entry

“Anglicize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anglicize. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

anglicize

verb
an·​gli·​cize ˈaŋ-glə-sīz How to pronounce anglicize (audio)
anglicized; anglicizing
often capitalized
: to make English (as in habits, speech, or outlook)
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