balkanize

verb, often capitalized bal·kan·ize \ ˈbȯl-kə-ˌnīz \

Updated on: 8 Apr 2018

Definition of balkanize

balkanized; balkanizing

transitive verb

1 : to break up (a region, a group, etc.) into smaller and often hostile units

opposes the partition of Germany, and holds that the economic consequences of Balkanizing the country would be serious
—Times Literary Supplement

2 : divide, compartmentalize

now pop culture has been balkanized; it is full of niches, with different groups watching and playing their own things
—Richard Corliss

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balkanization

play \ˌbȯl-kə-nə-ˈzā-shən\ noun, often capitalized

balkanize was our Word of the Day on 08/03/2014. Hear the podcast!

Recent Examples of balkanize from the Web

Social media, the internet and the rise of other populist, balkanizing technologies are now calling Madison’s constitutional vision into question.

— WSJ, "Five Best: Jeffrey Rosen," 16 Mar. 2018
In the 1800s, unions covered only a small fraction of workers and were balkanized and relatively weak.

— jay l. zagorsky, Smithsonian, "Striking Union Workers Turned the First Labor Day into a Networking Event," 1 Sep. 2017
Even so, the sports universe is heavily balkanized online, meaning your best bet at comprehensive streaming of pro football will involve that old standby — a cable or satellite TV subscription — or cellphone service through Verizon.

— anick jesdanun, Philly.com, "Ready for some football? All NFL games will air online, but watching won't be easy," 7 Sep. 2017
Conference talks, insiders fear, could be a nightmare and invite balkanized Republicans to feud even more.

— stephen ohlemacher, The Seattle Times, "Senate health care debate could be suspenseful and raucous," 26 July 2017
Conference talks, insiders fear, could be a nightmare and invite balkanized Republicans to feud even more.

— Washington Post, "Next up in Senate health care debate: Genuine suspense," 25 July 2017
Tech companies and civil rights advocates warn that the increasing push by nations to create their own internet rules will Balkanize the internet and potentially lead to privacy violations and the stifling of political dissent.

— cecilia kang and katie benner, New York Times, "Russia Requires Apple and Google to Remove LinkedIn From Local App Stores," 6 Jan. 2017
In a society that Balkanizes itself online by creating echo chambers unfamiliar ideas can’t penetrate, great barbecue places still bring together people of every race, socioeconomic group and ideology.

— andy staples, SI.com, "Where to eat, drink in Baton Rouge," 30 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'balkanize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

The Balkan Peninsula of southeastern Europe is named for the Balkan Mountains, which stretch through Bulgaria from its western border with Serbia to the Black Sea. (Balkan derives from a Turkish word that means "mountain.") The region known as the Balkans is commonly thought to include Albania, Greece, Romania, the European portion of Turkey, and often surrounding areas. The decline of the Ottoman Empire in the 18th century led to a series of revolts that accelerated the fracturing of the region into a number of smaller states whose unstable coexistence led to violence that came to a head in World War I. Since 1919, balkanize and its related noun, balkanization have come to refer to the kind of divisive action that can weaken countries or groups, as well as other things.