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

Similarly, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan have commercialized their expertise in data aggregation and analysis, signaling a shift toward more collaborative and efficient data ecosystems. —Christer Holloman, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

The company has already completed a pilot project with poultry, in an attempt to measure their well-being, but didn’t end up commercializing it. —Chris Stokel-Walker, Fortune, 26 June 2025

For purists, this installation may seem closer to commercializing a product than fine art. —Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 20 June 2025

Steele told me how witnessing this coming of Victory is a guide to ownership in hip-hop culture, as most acts of that era were not necessarily privy on exactly how to commercialize their real rap. —Ime Ekpo, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025

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