standardize

verb

stan·​dard·​ize ˈstan-dər-ˌdīz 

standardized; standardizing; standardizes

transitive verb

1

: to bring into conformity with a standard especially in order to assure consistency and regularity

trying to standardize testing procedures

There ought to be a law standardizing the controls for hot and cold in hotel and motel showers.

—Andrew A. Rooney

These rectangular steel boxes, first used about fifty years ago, revolutionized the transportation of freight by standardizing the size and shape of the container, enabling it to be moved seamlessly from boat and barge to rail or truck.

—James McCommons

2

: to compare with a standard : to determine the strength, value, or quality of (something) by comparison with a standard

standardize a solution

standardize a voltmeter

standardization

ˌstan-dər-də-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Synonyms

• organize
• normalize
• formalize
• regulate
• regularize
• integrate
• coordinate

Examples of standardize in a Sentence

He standardized procedures for the industry.

the plan is to standardize the test for reading comprehension so that we can see how students across the state compare

Recent Examples on the Web

The proposals focus on standardizing their prior authorization protocols and increasing transparency of and reporting on decision-making by plans. —Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025

The fear, in fact, is that our continual need to standardize will modernize ourselves out of existence. —Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 28 June 2025

Now, a coalition of private health insurance companies has voluntarily pledged to standardize and reform this process. —Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR, 24 June 2025

The commitments to standardize and streamline preapprovals, as well as provide real-time decisions, should benefit patients, said Anthony Wright, executive director of Families USA, a consumer advocacy group. —Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 23 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1792, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for standardize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Kids Definition

standardize

verb

stan·​dard·​ize ˈstan-dərd-ˌīz 

standardized; standardizing

: to compare with or make agree with a standard

standardization

ˌstan-dərd-ə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

standardize

transitive verb

stan·​dard·​ize

variants also British standardise

ˈstan-dərd-ˌīz 

standardized also British standardised; standardizing also British standardising

1

: to reduce to or compare with a standard

standardize a solution

2

: to bring into conformity with a standard

3

: to arrange or order the component items of a test (as of intelligence or personality) so that the probability of their eliciting a designated class of response varies with some quantifiable psychological or behavioral attribute, function, or characteristic

standardization noun

also British standardisation

ˌstan-dərd-ə-ˈzā-shən