galvanize

verb gal·va·nize \ ˈgal-və-ˌnīz \

|Updated on: 8 Jun 2018

Examples: galvanize in a Sentence

Editor's Note: The Scientific Origins of galvanize

Definition of galvanize

galvanized; galvanizing

transitive verb

1 a : to subject to the action of an electric current especially for the purpose of stimulating physiologically

galvanize a muscle

b : to stimulate or excite as if by an electric shock

an issue that would galvanize public opinion

2 : to coat (iron or steel) with zinc; especially : to immerse in molten zinc to produce a coating of zinc-iron alloy

intransitive verb

: to react as if stimulated by an electric shock

they galvanized into action

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galvanization

play \ˌgal-və-nə-ˈzā-shən\ noun

—

galvanizer

play \ˈgal-və-ˌnī-zər\ noun

See galvanize defined for English-language learners

See galvanize defined for kids

galvanize was our Word of the Day on 04/15/2016. Hear the podcast!

Examples of galvanize in a Sentence

The group is hoping to galvanize public opinion against the proposed law.
The Web site has galvanized support for the project.
a factory where steel is galvanized

Recent Examples of galvanize from the Web

As the magnitude of the Facebook lapse becomes apparent, maybe that would be enough to galvanize some effort.

— derek hawkins, Washington Post, "The Cybersecurity 202: Why a privacy law like GDPR would be a tough sell in the U.S.," 25 May 2018
Seven years on, that memory was part of his motivation in launching the JW Anderson Your Picture/Your Future search: to galvanize a new generation of unpublished photographers and image makes aged 18-30.

— sarah mower, Vogue, "JW Anderson Gives Young Photographers a Future," 18 May 2018
In July 2016, to galvanize his fellow drivers and launch the revolution, Schifter created a Facebook group called NY Black Car Drivers Association.

— jessica pressler, Daily Intelligencer, "The Tragic End to a Longtime Black-Car Driver’s Campaign Against Uber," 15 May 2018
But no one thing so seems to galvanize the masses, and the less numerous strata above, as pizza.

— beth segal, cleveland.com, "Il Rione Pizzeria: A passion for pizza in Gordon Square," 11 May 2018
As House Republicans work to galvanize enough support among their ranks to pass the bills, senators in both parties have vowed to produce a more bipartisan farm bill.

— greg trotter, chicagotribune.com, "Split over plan to expand food stamp work requirements: 'A good thing' or 'a recipe for disaster'," 10 May 2018
So one strand of the pro-European campaign aims to galvanize Labour Party members — including young people — to pressure Mr. Corbyn to resist Brexit.

— stephen castle, New York Times, "Could the U.K. Vote Again on Brexit? The Prospects Are Rising," 21 Apr. 2018
Bill Clinton had done more to galvanize the hard-core gun rights movement than any person or event in modern history.

— elliott woods, The New Republic, "Essential reporting, interpretation, and opinion on politics and culture. Don't miss our latest.," 16 Apr. 2018
But other more progressive figures see impeachment as a rallying cry of their own to galvanize the left's anti-Trump base.

— author: jonathan martin, Anchorage Daily News, "Republicans stoke fear of Democratic push for impeachment for an edge in the 2018 midterm election," 9 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'galvanize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The Scientific Origins of galvanize

Luigi Galvani was an Italian physician and physicist who, in the 1770s, studied the electrical nature of nerve impulses by applying electrical stimulation to frogs' leg muscles, causing them to contract. Although Galvani's theory that animal tissue contained an innate electrical impulse was disproven, the Italian word galvanismo came to describe a current of electricity especially when produced by chemical action. English speakers borrowed the word as galvanism around 1797; the verb galvanize appeared a few years later, in the early 19th century. Charlotte Brontë used the verb figuratively in her 1853 novel Villette: "Her approach always galvanized him to new and spasmodic life." These days, galvanize also means to cover metal with zinc or a zinc alloy to protect it from rust (as in galvanized carpentry nails).

Origin and Etymology of galvanize

borrowed from French galvaniser, from Luigi galvani (who conducted pioneering experiments in bioelectricity) + -iser -ize

Note: See note at galvanism.

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1802

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

galvanize Synonyms

Synonyms

charge, electrify, excite, exhilarate, intoxicate, pump up, thrill, titillate, turn on;

Near Antonyms

bore, jade, pall, tire, weary;

deject, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit;

bewitch, captivate, charm, delight, enchant, enthrall (or enthral), hypnotize, mesmerize, rivet, spellbind;

interest, intrigue, tantalize;

GALVANIZE Defined for English Language Learners

galvanize

verb

Definition of galvanize for English Language Learners

: to cause (people) to become so excited or concerned about an issue, idea, etc., that they want to do something about it
: to cause (a force that is capable of causing change) to become active
: to cover (steel or iron) with a layer of zinc to prevent it from rusting