americanize: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal/Neutral
Quick answer
What does “americanize” mean?
To make something or someone more like the United States in character, style, or system.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To make something or someone more like the United States in character, style, or system.
To adapt a product, service, or cultural item to suit US tastes, standards, or market conditions. Can also refer to the process of adopting American customs or citizenship.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: UK prefers 'Americanise'. US prefers 'Americanize'. The concept is more commonly discussed *about* the US from an external perspective.
Connotations
In the UK/other English-speaking countries, often used critically to discuss perceived cultural homogenization. In the US, may be used more neutrally to describe business adaptation.
Frequency
Higher frequency in international media, business, and academic (sociology) contexts than in everyday conversation in either variety.
Grammar
How to Use “americanize” in a Sentence
[Subject] americanized [Object] (e.g., The company americanized its products).[Object] was americanized by [Agent] (passive).Intransitive use is rare but possible in a reflexive sense (e.g., They americanized quickly).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “americanize” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The broadcaster decided to americanise the format of the game show for its UK version.
- Critics argued that the government's policies would americanise the health service.
American English
- The fast-food chain had to americanize its menu to include larger portion sizes.
- Immigrants often americanize their names to ease assimilation.
adverb
British English
- [Extremely rare. Would be 'americanisedly', but is virtually never used.]
American English
- [Extremely rare. Would be 'americanizedly', but is virtually never used.]
adjective
British English
- The americanised version of the film had a different ending.
- He had a somewhat americanised accent after years abroad.
American English
- The Americanized spelling uses 'z' instead of 's'.
- It was an Americanized interpretation of the Italian recipe.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to modifying products, marketing, or business practices for the US market. 'The car manufacturer had to americanize the model's safety features.'
Academic
Used in sociology, cultural studies, and history to discuss cultural imperialism, globalization, or assimilation. 'The study examined how postwar Japan was americanized.'
Everyday
Used to describe changes in food, entertainment, or habits. 'The cafe americanized its breakfast by adding pancakes and maple syrup.'
Technical
Less common; could be used in software/internationalization (i18n) as part of 'localize and americanize'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “americanize”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “americanize”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “americanize”
- Confusing spelling: Using 's' in American English or 'z' in British English.
- Using it to mean 'to travel to America'.
- Misspelling as 'americanise' in US contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Americanize' specifically means to make something conform to US norms. 'Assimilate' is broader, meaning to absorb into a culture, which could be any culture.
Not inherently. It is descriptive. However, it often appears in critical discussions about cultural imperialism or loss of local identity, which can give it a negative connotation in those contexts.
Yes. 'He became americanized after living in New York for a decade' means he adopted American manners, habits, or attitudes. For legal citizenship, 'naturalize' is the correct term.
No. In American English, the standard and expected spelling is always 'americanize' with a 'z'. Using 's' would be marked as a British spelling.
To make something or someone more like the United States in character, style, or system.
Americanize is usually formal/neutral in register.
Americanize: in British English it is pronounced /əˈmɛrɪk(ə)nʌɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈmɛrɪkəˌnaɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not commonly used in idioms. The verb itself is the core concept.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: To make something 'American' in size, style, or system. The '-ize' ending is the clue it's a verb meaning 'to make into'.
Conceptual Metaphor
CULTURE IS A SUBSTANCE THAT CAN BE APPLIED/ABSORBED. (e.g., The film was americanized).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb 'americanize' most appropriately used?