fossilize

verb

fos·​sil·​ize ˈfä-sə-ˌlīz 

fossilized; fossilizing

transitive verb

1

: to convert into a fossil

2

: to make outmoded, rigid, or fixed

intransitive verb

: to become changed into a fossil

fossilization

ˌfä-sə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Examples of fossilize in a Sentence

The mud helped to preserve and fossilize the wood.

Recent Examples on the Web

While the oldest human footsteps are fossilized in Tanzania, the Wits Origins Centre—part of the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa—provides an excellent introduction to the beginning of humanity. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026

The Giant Octopus Had Jaws Built to Crush The giant octopus fossil evidence comes from beaks — the only hard part of an octopus’s body that can fossilize. —Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2026

The only octopus body parts that do fossilize are their chitinous jaws, which look a bit like parrot beaks. —Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 24 Apr. 2026

That’s because octopuses are notoriously difficult to fossilize because their bodies are almost entirely soft tissue. —Ryan Brennan april 24, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for fossilize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Kids Definition

fossilize

verb

fos·​sil·​ize ˈfäs-ə-ˌlīz 

fossilized; fossilizing

: to change or become changed into a fossil

fossilization

ˌfäs-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun