politicize

verb

po·​lit·​i·​cize pə-ˈli-tə-ˌsīz 

politicized; politicizing

transitive verb

: to give a political tone or character to

an attempt to politicize the civil service

politicization

pə-ˌli-tə-sə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Examples of politicize in a Sentence

They have politicized the budget process.

Recent Examples on the Web

New Delhi’s support enabled Hasina to undermine democratic institutions, politicize the judiciary and Election Commission, and enforce repressive laws such as the Digital Security Act, which limited free speech online and allowed arbitrary arrests and detentions of opponents of the regime. —Muhib Rahman, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2025

And look, the case is politicized. —Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 12 Nov. 2025

Bruce Coons, executive director of a preservation group called the Save Our Heritage Organisation, said the new policy would complicate and politicize the process and could lead to more litigation. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025

This has given the conflict a religious coloration, and political elites have also chosen to politicize the conflict to negotiate power and other interests, which has complicated the problem. —Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

politic or politic(s) + -ize

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for politicize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize