popularize

verb

pop·​u·​lar·​ize ˈpä-pyə-lə-ˌrīz 

popularized; popularizing

intransitive verb

: to cater to popular taste

transitive verb

: to make popular: such as

a

: to cause to be liked or esteemed

b

: to present in generally understandable or interesting form

popularization

ˌpä-pyə-lə-rə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

popularizer

ˈpä-pyə-lə-ˌrī-zər 

noun

Examples of popularize in a Sentence

a phrase that was popularized by its use in a hit TV show

Dream analysis was popularized by Sigmund Freud.

The book presents a popularized version of American history.

Recent Examples on the Web

Podcasts, newsletters, and Words of the Year have popularized neologisms, etymologies, and usage trends. —Stefan Fatsis, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2025

Although few people know her name, Yeager had a huge influence on 20th century pop culture — popularizing the bikini, helping discover Bettie Page, shaping the image of Playboy and inventing the selfie. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025

Nast created several other political symbols including the Republican Party’s elephant, Tammany Hall’s tiger, one of the most popular images of Santa Claus and popularized the Democratic Party’s donkey. —Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 12 Sep. 2025

Because the idea of a mockumentary at that time had not been popularized. —Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from French populariser "to present in a favorable light, make popular," from populaire popular + -iser -ize

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for popularize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize

Kids Definition

popularize

verb

pop·​u·​lar·​ize ˈpäp-yə-lə-ˌrīz 

popularized; popularizing

: to make popular

popularization

ˌpäp-yə-lə-rə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

popularizer

ˈpäp-yə-lə-ˌrī-zər 

noun