civilize

verb

civ·​i·​lize ˈsi-və-ˌlīz How to pronounce civilize (audio)
civilized; civilizing

transitive verb

1
: to cause to develop out of a primitive state
especially : to bring to a technically advanced and rationally ordered stage of cultural development
2

intransitive verb

: to acquire the customs and amenities of a civil community
civilizer noun

Examples of civilize in a Sentence

Her parents hoped that boarding school might civilize her some. a teacher who had a civilizing influence on the students He is credited with civilizing the treatment of people with mental illnesses. efforts to civilize the health-care system They believed it was their duty to civilize the native people.
Recent Examples on the Web Black religions, like Vodou and Santería, became key targets in this civilizing mission, demonized as pagan, savage, and dangerous. Aisha M. Beliso-De Jesús / Made By History, TIME, 4 Oct. 2024 Parking is torturous enough through the Melrose corridor on the weekdays, plus giving a restaurant staff off on Saturday and Sunday seems boldly civilized. Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024 The violence that the banana goliath’s civilizing mission unleashes upon the Colombian landscape and its people is not a bug. Eduardo Porter, Washington Post, 1 July 2024 The United Kingdom’s nineteenth-century civilizing mission, although rarely mentioned in Stern’s work, was an article of faith at home and in the empire. Caroline Elkins, Foreign Affairs, 22 Aug. 2023 See all Example Sentences for civilize 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'civilize.' 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

1595, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of civilize was in 1595

Dictionary Entries Near civilize

Cite this Entry

“Civilize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civilize. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

civilize

verb
civ·​i·​lize ˈsiv-ə-ˌlīz How to pronounce civilize (audio)
civilized; civilizing
: to cause to develop out of a primitive state
especially : to bring to an advanced stage (as in art, science, and government) of social development
civilized adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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