hinduize: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely Rare / ArchaicSpecialized / Historical / Academic
Quick answer
What does “hinduize” mean?
To make something or someone conform to Hindu customs, beliefs, or culture.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To make something or someone conform to Hindu customs, beliefs, or culture.
To assimilate or transform a person, practice, or institution to align with Hindu religious principles, traditions, or social norms, often implying a process of cultural conversion or influence.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant modern usage differences; term is largely obsolete in both varieties.
Connotations
Historically, in British colonial writing, it could imply a process of 'going native' or cultural assimilation viewed through a colonial lens. In modern use, if encountered, it is seen as an archaic and potentially problematic term.
Frequency
Virtually unattested in current corpora for both BrE and AmE. Slightly more likely to be found in 19th or early 20th-century British colonial texts.
Grammar
How to Use “hinduize” in a Sentence
[Subject] hinduized [Object] (e.g., The regime sought to hinduize the tribal communities).[Object] was hinduized by [Agent] (e.g., Local rituals were hinduized by priestly intervention).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hinduize” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Some early colonial administrators feared local customs would hinduise the European settlers.
- The policy was seen as an attempt to hinduise the region's education system.
American English
- Critics accused the movement of trying to Hinduize the secular constitution.
- Over centuries, the epic was Hinduized, incorporating Vedic deities.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable; no standard adverb form in use.
American English
- Not applicable; no standard adverb form in use.
adjective
British English
- The Hinduising tendency of the reform was controversial. (Note: present participle used adjectivally)
- A heavily Hinduised version of the folklore emerged.
American English
- They studied the Hinduized rituals of the syncretic community.
- The debate focused on the Hinduizing effects of the new curriculum.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used cautiously in historical, religious studies, or post-colonial criticism to describe processes of religious/cultural change in South Asian history.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
May appear in specialized anthropological or historical texts with critical framing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hinduize”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hinduize”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hinduize”
- Misspelling as 'hindulize' or 'hinduise'.
- Using it in a modern, uncritical context.
- Confusing it with 'Indianize', which relates to nationality, not specifically religion.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is extremely rare, archaic, and considered problematic due to its colonial overtones and simplistic view of cultural change.
The noun form is 'hinduization' (or 'hinduisation' in UK spelling), though it shares the same archaic and specialized register.
In contemporary academic writing, it is used very cautiously, often in scare quotes, to describe historical perceptions rather than as a neutral analytical term. More precise language is preferred.
Depending on context, use phrases like 'assimilate into Hindu society', 'adopt Hindu practices', 'undergo Sanskritization' (a specific sociological term), or 'incorporate Hindu elements'.
To make something or someone conform to Hindu customs, beliefs, or culture.
Hinduize is usually specialized / historical / academic in register.
Hinduize: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɪn.duː.aɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɪn.du.aɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'HINDU' + 'IZE' (like 'modernize') = to make like a Hindu.
Conceptual Metaphor
CULTURE IS A SUBSTANCE THAT CAN BE APPLIED (e.g., to coat or saturate something with Hindu culture).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the term 'hinduize' be most appropriately used today?