containerize

verb

con·​tain·​er·​ize kən-ˈtā-nə-ˌrīz How to pronounce containerize (audio)
-nər-ˌīz
containerized; containerizing

transitive verb

1
: to ship by containerization
2
: to pack in containers

Did you know?

You can probably guess the etymology of containerize quite easily - it was formed around 1956 by adding "-ize" to "container" to create a verb. "Containerize" didn't start out with the meaning "to put in a container," however. It originally meant "to ship by containerization" - that is, to ship using a method in which a large amount of material is packaged into large standardized containers. The more general "pack in containers" sense came somewhat later, but it is now becoming more common. These days, for example, you might containerize a plant or your household clutter.

Examples of containerize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Sort, purge, organize, containerize. Marni Jameson, orlandosentinel.com, 28 Jan. 2022 Many nurseries will buy from other nurseries that grow plants and containerize the plants or grow them out for spring shipping. Tammy Sons, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2021 Businesses often decide to containerize solutions to speed up their development and release. Dennis Turpitka, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2021 Whether balled and burlapped (B&B) or containerized, new trees will have excess soil on top of the true ball. Howard Garrett, Dallas News, 13 Feb. 2020 These wastes should be containerized, labeled, and ultimately sent to a facility that is permitted to store, treat, and dispose of hazardous wastes. Leah Napoliello, Houston Chronicle, 26 Oct. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'containerize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1956, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of containerize was in 1956

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Dictionary Entries Near containerize

Cite this Entry

“Containerize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/containerize. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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