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

The shell was probably soft and leathery and didn’t fossilize readily, which would explain why scientists have not found signs of therapsid eggs until now. —Kate Wong, Scientific American, 15 Apr. 2026

Clements said the mistaken identification may have happened because the creature decomposed and lost its telltale shell before it was fossilized, complicating identification. —ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026

These boneless organisms fossilized as biofilm — they were rapidly buried and compressed between layers of rock, leaving behind two-dimensional impressions of their organic tissues. —Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026

Fela’s greatest achievement may be that his music never fossilized. —Obi Asika, semafor.com, 6 Feb. 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