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

Yet in the global race to develop and commercialize advanced therapies, Europe has been steadily losing ground. — Kimberley Jane Barnes, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

In January 2025, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched a pair of private moon landers with experiments and even a tiny rover as part of NASA's push to commercialize lunar exploration. — CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

FutureTex will work with domestic manufacturers to commercialize applied research, modernize facilities and equipment—plus incorporate digital infrastructure and other emerging technologies into production. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 17 Aug. 2026

Freenome is poised to broadly commercialize its cancer-screening services this fall, giving it significantly more room to run, according to Jefferies. — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 17 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