commercialize

verb

com·​mer·​cial·​ize kə-ˈmər-shə-ˌlīz 

commercialized; commercializing

transitive verb

1

a

: to manage on a business basis for profit

b

: to develop commerce in

2

: to exploit for profit

commercialize Christmas

3

: to debase in quality for more profit

commercialization

kə-ˌmər-sh(ə-)lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Examples of commercialize in a Sentence

The company hopes to commercialize the drug next year.

Recent Examples on the Web

These ideas were taken by UKAEA through patent protection and proof-of-concept prototype build, which ultimately led to the technology developments now being commercialized by MuWave. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 22 Jan. 2026

The new valuation, compared with a 2024 fundraising round at $5 billion, is a sign of confidence in the startup’s ability to scale and commercialize its operations. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026

The Southampton researchers started a company, SPhontonix, to commercialize this technology. —Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026

Pharmaceutical out-licensing typically grants overseas partners some or all of the rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize a treatment originally developed by the licenser. —Ed Silverman, STAT, 20 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for commercialize

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

Kids Definition

commercialize

verb

com·​mer·​cial·​ize kə-ˈmər-shə-ˌlīz 

commercialized; commercializing

1

: to manage for the sake of making a profit

2

: to use for profit

commercialize Christmas

commercialization

-ˌmər-shə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun