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

That person’s fragrance will be produced, launched and commercialized worldwide by L’Artisan Parfumeur. — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026

According to the foundation, af Klint herself demanded that her art not be commercialized. — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 20 Oct. 2026

The United Kingdom invented aniline dye, but Germany commercialized it, to give one example. — Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2026

Holyvolt plans to begin commercializing DRX in 2027, starting with unmanned aerial vehicles before moving into mobility. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 Oct. 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