medicalize
verb
med·i·cal·ize
ˈme-di-kə-ˌlīz 
medicalized; medicalizing
: to view or treat as a medical concern, problem, or disorder
This research has persuaded some authorities to medicalize obesity as a disease.—
Miguel A. Roman-Diaz
Miguel A. Roman-DiazExamples of medicalize in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The vibe is calm, cool, dim, and science-y without being overly medicalized.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Apr. 2026
But today, that transformation is increasingly medicalized.
—
Sara Radin,
Vogue,
9 Apr. 2026
The public has had little interest in looking this gift horse in the mouth, and regulators have done little to control this whole new category of business that has managed to de-medicalize medical procedures in just a few years.
—
Deanna Pai,
Allure,
18 Nov. 2025
Despite the effort to medicalize executions, the history of lethal injection has been anything but smooth, sterile and predictable.
—
Austin Sarat,
The Conversation,
6 Mar. 2025
Conception — so often an intimate act — is made impersonal and medicalized in the context of the fertility clinic, and then made intimate again through the abuse of the doctor-patient relationship.
—
Lisa Bubert,
Longreads,
28 Mar. 2023
Despite the problems with greater access to marijuana, a strong pro-marijuana movement has seized the opportunity to medicalize its mission and thus change public perception of the drug.
—
Nicholas Chadi,
STAT,
12 Apr. 2018
Big Pharma hands the baton to Big Couch in the race to medicalize life.
—
Neuroskeptic,
Discover Magazine,
15 Mar. 2010
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Apr. 2026
But today, that transformation is increasingly medicalized.
—
Sara Radin,
Vogue,
9 Apr. 2026
The public has had little interest in looking this gift horse in the mouth, and regulators have done little to control this whole new category of business that has managed to de-medicalize medical procedures in just a few years.
—
Deanna Pai,
Allure,
18 Nov. 2025
Despite the effort to medicalize executions, the history of lethal injection has been anything but smooth, sterile and predictable.
—
Austin Sarat,
The Conversation,
6 Mar. 2025
Conception — so often an intimate act — is made impersonal and medicalized in the context of the fertility clinic, and then made intimate again through the abuse of the doctor-patient relationship.
—
Lisa Bubert,
Longreads,
28 Mar. 2023
Despite the problems with greater access to marijuana, a strong pro-marijuana movement has seized the opportunity to medicalize its mission and thus change public perception of the drug.
—
Nicholas Chadi,
STAT,
12 Apr. 2018
Big Pharma hands the baton to Big Couch in the race to medicalize life.
—
Neuroskeptic,
Discover Magazine,
15 Mar. 2010
Cite this Entry
“Medicalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/medicalize. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
medicalize
transitive verb
med·i·cal·ize
variants
or British medicalise
ˈmed-ə-kə-ˌlīz
medicalized or British medicalised; medicalizing or British medicalising
: to view or treat as a medical concern, problem, or disorder
those who seek to dispose of social problems by medicalizing them—Liam Hudson
Liam Hudsonthe Western model of medicalized birth … in order to reduce potential risk—Judith Fitzpatrick
Judith FitzpatrickLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
