proselytize

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verb pros·e·ly·tize \ˈprä-s(ə-)lə-ˌtīz\

Definition of proselytize

proselytized

;

proselytizing

intransitive verb
1 : to induce someone to convert to one's faith
2 : to recruit someone to join one's party, institution, or cause
transitive verb
: to recruit or convert especially to a new faith, institution, or cause

proselytization

play \ˌprä-s(ə-)lə-tə-ˈzā-shən, ˌprä-sə-ˌlī-tə-\ noun

proselytizer

play \ˈprä-s(ə-)lə-ˌtī-zər\ noun

See proselytize defined for English-language learners

See proselytize defined for kids

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Examples of proselytize in a Sentence

They are a sport-shirted, discomforted lot, pacing, puffing feverishly on cigarettes, perspiring freely and proselytizing furiously. —Nicholas Dawidoff, Sports Illustrated, 19 Aug. 1991
Mormons are urged to use their social contacts with Gentiles to proselytize, by doing such favors as babysitting, running errands, and lending lawnmowers. —Malise Ruthven, Wilson Quarterly, Spring 1991
His prodigious correspondence with twenty-five hundred scientists, politicians, and men of letters … proselytized for his new science of statistics. —Daniel J. Boorstin, The Discoverers, 1983
He uses his position to proselytize for the causes that he supports.
the efforts of early missionaries to proselytize the Native Americans of Minnesota were largely unproductive

Recent Examples of proselytize from the Web

Collins regularly proselytized about the company, Innate Pharmaceuticals, to fellow House Republicans and convinced at least four of them to invest, as STAT News' Damian Garde reports.

— sy mukherjee, Fortune, "This GOP Congressman Lost $17 Million on a Biotech Investment Gone Wrong," 27 June 2017
But Muslims have no place proselytizing in Christian countries, particularly ones that have lost sight of their Christian values.

— sumi somaskanda, The Atlantic, "A New, New Right Rises in Germany," 22 June 2017
The stoop had no shade, and Jehovah's Witnesses would occasionally interrupt my breakfast to proselytize.

— aimee levitt, Chicago Reader, "Business in the front, party on the back porch," 22 June 2017
But the one inviolable rule is that they are not allowed to proselytize.

— the new york times, NOLA.com, "In paradox, North Korea Christian school serves the elite," 30 May 2017
AKRON, Ohio -- Akron Children's Hospital CEO Bill Considine is proselytizing about the effect of the American Health Care Act on children.

— jennifer conn, akron reporter, cleveland.com, "Akron Children's Hospital CEO on a mission to share how American Health Care Act would hurt kids," 26 May 2017
Yet despite Benedict’s efforts to proselytize, the python barely made its way into the labs of other physiologists.

— daniel engber, New York Times, "When the Lab Rat Is a Snake," 17 May 2017
In 2011, a policy sought to stop organizations from bothering patients by proselytizing to them, after complaints surfaced that visitors from some groups were persistent and occasionally threatening.

— lolita c. baldor, The Seattle Times, "AP FACT CHECK: Trump misses whole story on hospital policy," 5 May 2017
The policy was meant to stop benevolent organizations from bothering patients by proselytizing to them, after complaints surfaced that visitors from some groups were persistent and occasionally even threatening.

— Washington Post, "AP FACT CHECK: Trump misses whole story on hospital policy," 5 May 2017

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

Did You Know?

Proselytize comes from the noun proselyte (meaning "a new convert"), which comes from the Late Latin noun proselytus. Proselytus means "stranger" or "alien resident," and comes from a similar Greek word (prosēlytos). When proselytize entered English in the 17th century, it had a distinctly religious connotation and meant simply "to recruit religious converts." This meaning is still common, but today one can also proselytize in a broader sense - recruiting converts to one's political party or pet cause, for example.