politicize

verb po·lit·i·cize \ pə-ˈli-tə-ˌsīz \

|Updated on: 8 Aug 2018

Examples: politicize in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of politicize

politicized; politicizing

transitive verb

: to give a political tone or character to

an attempt to politicize the civil service

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politicization

play \pə-ˌli-tə-sə-ˈzā-shən\ noun

See politicize defined for English-language learners

Examples of politicize in a Sentence

They have politicized the budget process.

Recent Examples of politicize from the Web

Despite reforms to our process, Californians face periodic threats to politicize their courts' independence.

— amy chance, sacbee, "California Influencers: What did we learn from the June primary election, and why?," 11 June 2018
In the aftermath of the shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas — where 10 people were killed and more than a dozen were injured — a number of people are trying to politicize the shooting as being related to anything other than gun control.

— alyssa hardy, Teen Vogue, "Radio Host Hugh Hewitt Proposed a Trench Coat Ban in Response to Santa Fe High School Shooting," 21 May 2018
But elected officials are more likely to fund affordable housing than to politicize pay structures for companies and employees.

— mary shanklin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Chipping away at Central Florida's housing needs isn't enough," 28 Apr. 2018
Typically, the White House avoids interfering in criminal justice matters to ensure that such cases aren’t politicized or prejudiced.

— byron tau, WSJ, "Senate Staffer Accused of Lying to FBI Requests Trump Gag Order," 19 June 2018
The Obama White House was stringently opposed to the pardons process becoming politicized in any way.

— sydney scott, Essence.com, "People Are Questioning Donald Trump's Motives For Pardoning Legendary Boxer Jack Johnson," 25 May 2018
Following the news that Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy will retire this summer, columnist Will Bunch writes that the GOP’s long game of politicizing the Supreme Court nomination process will pay off in a nightmare for America.

— aubrey nagle, Philly.com, "Five dead in Annapolis shooting, Philly heat wave arrives as some 'hoods get hotter | Morning Newsletter," 29 June 2018
All of these seeds were planted in earlier administrations, which chose not to politicize the cosmos.

— eric berger, Ars Technica, "With three words, President Trump fortifies a flawed perception about NASA," 21 June 2018
Obama’s instinct was to avoid politicizing it at all costs.

— george packer, The New Yorker, "Witnessing the Obama Presidency, from Start to Finish," 5 June 2018

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

Did You Know?

Sexual harassment was once seen as a private matter, but in the 1980s and '90s it became thoroughly politicized, with women pressuring lawmakers to make it illegal. So, at the same time, the issue of sexual harassment politicized many women, who began to take an interest in political action because of it. In other words, we may speak of an issue becoming politicized, but also of a person or group becoming politicized.

First Known Use of politicize

1846

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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POLITICIZE Defined for English Language Learners

politicize

verb

Definition of politicize for English Language Learners

: to relate (an idea, issue, etc.) to politics in a way that makes people less likely to agree
: to cause (someone) to become involved or interested in government or politics