westernization

noun

west·​ern·​i·​za·​tion ˌwe-stər-nə-ˈzā-shən How to pronounce westernization (audio)
often capitalized
: conversion to or adoption of western traditions or techniques

Examples of westernization in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web All those shows are remarkably eclectic, telling stories depicting Brothers Grimm fairy tales, cannibalism in Victorian London, the westernization of 19th-century Japan and a Hollywood songwriter’s fractured friendships. Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 2 Mar. 2023 Nemat grew up in the ‘70s during the much more liberal era of the Shah, a secular monarchy backed by the United States, that had placed the country on a trajectory toward modernization and westernization. Wendy Kaur, ELLE, 21 Nov. 2022 Within months, Pahlavi Iran, a showcase for Westernization, yielded to the Islamic state led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Amir-Hussein Radjy, New Republic, 6 July 2017 Late-20th-century globalization — a synonym for Westernization — brought a lot of good to both poorer Western countries and the non-Western world. Victor Davis Hanson, The Mercury News, 25 May 2017 Westernization has begun to influence a new aesthetic, one that echoes metropolises from around the world. Liz Stinson, WIRED, 3 Mar. 2014 Police officers some months ago closed a knockoff KFC restaurant after hard-liners protested, saying the chicken wings were a symbol of Westernization. Thomas Erdbrink, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2016

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'westernization.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of westernization was in 1873

Dictionary Entries Near westernization

Cite this Entry

“Westernization.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/westernization. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

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