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

By 2022, China had commercialized its first generation of biotech corn seeds, increasing corn yields by ten percent. — Caitlin Welsh, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2026

The company has been growing its third-party marketplace and taking steps to commercialize its supply chain, often considered its strongest asset. — Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026

Demand is formed in cultural ecosystems, then converted by retail platforms that understand how to curate, educate and commercialize it. — Darko Pavic, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Given its apparent upside, why hasn’t it been commercialized sooner? — Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 9 Aug. 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