colorize: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, technical
Quick answer
What does “colorize” mean?
To add colour to something that is originally black and white.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To add colour to something that is originally black and white.
To give character, life, or vibrancy to something; to enhance or alter appearance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK primary spelling: 'colourise'. US primary spelling: 'colorize'. Both forms understood in each region.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties, though the process is more frequently discussed in US film industry contexts.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to Hollywood film industry discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “colorize” in a Sentence
[Subject] colorized [Object] (e.g., They colorized the film).[Object] was colorized by [Agent] (e.g., The footage was colorized by a specialist).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “colorize” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The studio decided to colourise their archive of wartime documentaries.
- Many argue you shouldn't colourise Hitchcock's masterpiece.
American English
- They plan to colorize the entire series for its streaming release.
- New AI tools can colorize old family photos automatically.
adverb
British English
- N/A (extremely rare).
American English
- N/A (extremely rare).
adjective
British English
- The colourised version looked strangely vivid.
- A poorly colourised scene can be distracting.
American English
- The colorized film sparked debate among purists.
- She preferred the original to the colorized print.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; may appear in media/entertainment marketing ('We colorize classic films for new audiences').
Academic
Used in film studies, media history, and digital humanities.
Everyday
Low frequency; mainly when discussing old films or photos.
Technical
Core term in film restoration, digital imaging, and graphic design software.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “colorize”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “colorize”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “colorize”
- Using 'colorize' to mean 'choose a colour' (e.g., 'I colorized the walls blue' – incorrect). Using it for simple painting/colouring activities.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes. Its core use is in media. Using it for objects ('colorize a car') is non-standard.
'Colour in' is for filling areas with colour (e.g., a child's drawing). 'Colorize' is a technical process for converting monochrome media to colour.
Both are accepted, but '-ise' ('colourise') is more common in UK English, following the Oxford spelling convention.
Not always, but it is overwhelmingly associated with digital techniques in the modern era. Historically, it involved hand-painting film frames.
To add colour to something that is originally black and white.
Colorize is usually formal, technical in register.
Colorize: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkʌl.ə.raɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkʌl.ə.raɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “colorize the past (to reinterpret history in an anachronistically modern way)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'COLOR' + 'IZE' (like 'modernize') = to make something have color.
Conceptual Metaphor
COLOR IS LIFE / VIBRANCY (Adding colour is adding life).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'colorize' most appropriately used?