culturalize: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowformal, academic, business
Quick answer
What does “culturalize” mean?
To adapt something to fit into a particular culture or to make someone aware of cultural differences.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To adapt something to fit into a particular culture or to make someone aware of cultural differences.
To imbue with cultural characteristics, often used in contexts of social integration, corporate training, or adapting products/services for specific cultural markets.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The '-ize' spelling is dominant in American English. British English shows a stronger preference for the '-ise' variant ('culturalise'), though '-ize' remains correct. The term is equally rare in both variants.
Connotations
Similar in both; suggests a formal, often institutional process.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both corpora. More likely encountered in specialized texts on sociology, international business, or education.
Grammar
How to Use “culturalize” in a Sentence
[NP] culturalize [NP] (transitive)[NP] be culturalized for [NP] (passive with purpose/beneficiary)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “culturalize” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The museum sought to culturalise its outreach programmes for a younger audience.
- The training modules were culturalised for the Southeast Asian market.
American English
- The company needs to culturalize its software interface for users in Japan.
- Many global brands fail when they don't culturalize their advertising.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to modifying products, services, or marketing strategies to align with local cultural norms and values.
Academic
Used in sociology, anthropology, and education to describe the process of acquiring or imparting cultural knowledge and practices.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would likely be paraphrased (e.g., 'make it fit our culture').
Technical
Found in cross-cultural communication studies, diversity training, and localization industries.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “culturalize”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “culturalize”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “culturalize”
- Using it intransitively (e.g., 'The company culturalized' is incomplete).
- Confusing with 'acculturate', which focuses more on the individual's adaptation rather than an active process done to something.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a valid, though low-frequency, verb found in academic and professional dictionaries, meaning to adapt to or imbue with culture.
'Localize' often focuses on language and practical regional specifics. 'Culturalize' implies a deeper adaptation to underlying cultural values, norms, and social practices.
It can be, particularly if the process is seen as superficial, forced, or as a form of cultural imposition, stripping original meaning.
Yes, 'culturalization' is the related noun, referring to the process or result of culturalizing.
To adapt something to fit into a particular culture or to make someone aware of cultural differences.
Culturalize is usually formal, academic, business in register.
Culturalize: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkʌltʃ(ə)rəˌlʌɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkəltʃ(ə)rəˌlaɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CULTURE + ALIZE (like 'realize' or 'specialize') = to make something suited to a culture.
Conceptual Metaphor
CULTURE IS A FABRIC (to culturalize is to weave something into this fabric).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb 'culturalize' most appropriately used?