volatilize

1 of 2

verb

vol·​a·​til·​ize ˈvä-lə-tə-ˌlīz 

British also

və-ˈla-tə-ˌlīz 

volatilized; volatilizing

transitive verb

: to make volatile

especially : to cause to pass off in vapor

intransitive verb

: to pass off in vapor

volatilizable

ˈvä-lə-tə-ˌlī-zə-bəl 

British also və-ˈla-tə-ˌlī-

adjective

volatilization

ˌvä-lə-tə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

British also və-ˌla-tə-ˌlī-ˈzā-

noun

volatilization

2 of 2

noun

vol·​a·​til·​iza·​tion ˌvälətᵊlə̇ˈzāshən 

-lətᵊl-, 

-ᵊlˌīˈ-

plural -s

1

: the act or process of volatilizing

2

: the state of being volatilized

Examples of volatilize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Heat volatilizes the chemical compounds that are responsible for the odor, driving them into the surrounding air and extending their effective range dramatically. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 19 Mar. 2026

For example, some will volatilize and drift with the breeze in warm weather. —oregonlive, 3 June 2023

The idea is that this shape allows a wine’s aromatic compounds to volatilize when swirled around in the wider base. —Esther Mobley, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Feb. 2022

Applications made in the summer months for weed control are very prone to volatilize. —oregonlive.com, 9 Aug. 2019

And hotter weather, also tied to climate change, causes mercury to volatilize and be released. —Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 14 June 2019

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably from (assumed) New Latin volatilization-, volatilizatio, from volatilizare to volatilize + Latin -ation-, -atio -ation

First Known Use

Verb

1657, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for volatilize

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

Medical Definition

volatilize

verb

vol·​a·​til·​ize

variants also British volatilise

ˈväl-ət-ᵊl-ˌīz, British also və-ˈlat-

volatilized also British volatilised; volatilizing also British volatilising

transitive verb

: to make volatile

especially : to cause to pass off in vapor

intransitive verb

: to pass off in vapor

volatilizable adjective

also British volatilisable

-ˌī-zə-bəl 

volatilization noun

also British volatilisation

ˌväl-ət-ᵊl-ə-ˈzā-shən, British also və-ˌlat-ᵊl-ˌī-ˈ