Return to the home page.

Expand/collapse menu.

Visit Our Sites

Unabridged Dictionary

Learner's Dictionary

Word Central for Kids

Collegiate Dictionary

Expand/collapse menu.

Premium Services

Unabridged Dictionary

Collegiate Dictionary

Encyclopedia Britannica

Institutional Subscriptions

Expand/collapse menu.

Expand/collapse menu.

Word of the Day

Subscriber Help

Expand/collapse menu.

More Word Games

Daily Crosswords

Expand/collapse menu.

Open Dictionary

Alphabetical Browse

Browse Categories

Submit an Entry

Expand/collapse menu.

Spelling Bee Hive

Hive Headquarters

Spelling Champion

Spelling Reform

Expand/collapse menu.

Word for the Wise

Today's Broadcast

Expand/collapse menu.

Books and CD-Roms

Online Services

Palm and Pocket PC

Expand/collapse menu.

Looking Up a Word

Citing the Dictionary

Audio Pronunciations

Word Games Help

Expand/collapse menu.

Merriam-Webster FAQ

Advertising Info

Copyright Notice

Also Visit:
Unabridged

Visual
ESL:
Learner's
for Kids:
Spell It!
Word Central

bowdlerize

Browse the Dictionary:: A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; W; X; Y; Z; #

bowdlerize

Main Entry:: bowd·ler·ize
Pronunciation:: \ˈbōd-lə-ˌrīz, ˈbau̇d-\
Function:: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s):: bowd·ler·ized; bowd·ler·iz·ing
Etymology:: Thomas Bowdler died 1825 English editor
Date:: 1836

1 : to expurgate (as a book) by omitting or modifying parts considered vulgar 2 : to modify by abridging, simplifying, or distorting in style or content

— bowd·ler·i·za·tion

Listen to the pronunciation of bowdlerization

\ˌbōd-lə-rə-ˈzā-shən, ˌbau̇d-\ noun

— bowd·ler·iz·er noun

Learn more about "bowdlerize" and related topics at Britannica.com

See a map of "bowdlerize" in the Visual Thesaurus

Find Jobs in Your City

Pronunciation Symbols