germanize

verb

ger·man·ize ˈjər-mə-ˌnīz

variants often Germanize

germanized; germanizing

transitive verb

1

archaic : to translate into German

2

: to cause to acquire German characteristics

intransitive verb

: to have or acquire German customs or leanings

germanization

ˌjər-mə-nə-ˈzā-shən

noun

often Germanization

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of germanize was in 1605

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

German ivy

germanize

German knot

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Germanize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/germanize. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

bromide

Listen to the pronunciation of bromide

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Using Bullet Points ( • )

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Popular in Wordplay

13 Wonderful Words That You're Not Using (Yet)

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

Birds Say the Darndest Things

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'

Popular

Using Bullet Points ( • )

13 Wonderful Words That You're Not Using (Yet)

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs