localize: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical, Business
Quick answer
What does “localize” mean?
To restrict something to or adapt it for a particular place or region.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To restrict something to or adapt it for a particular place or region; to identify or find the exact position of something.
In computing/software: to adapt a product for a specific locale (language, culture). In medicine: to limit an infection or reaction to a specific area. In business: to tailor products, marketing, or operations to local markets. In problem-solving: to pinpoint the source or location of an issue.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'localise' is standard in British English. The -ize spelling is also accepted but less common in UK. Both spellings are pronounced identically. The 'localise' spelling is almost never used in American English.
Connotations
No significant difference in connotation.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English in business/tech contexts due to global market focus.
Grammar
How to Use “localize” in a Sentence
[Verb] + [Direct Object] (localize the fault)[Verb] + [Direct Object] + [Prepositional Phrase] (localize it to the region)[Verb] + [Reflexive] (The infection localized itself).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “localize” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The software company will localise the interface for the French market.
- Can you localise the vibration to the left front wheel?
American English
- The company plans to localize its product packaging for each state.
- The scan helped to localize the tumor precisely.
adverb
British English
- N/A (No direct adverb form; 'locally' is from 'local')
American English
- N/A (No direct adverb form; 'locally' is from 'local')
adjective
British English
- N/A (The adjective is 'local', not 'localized' as a primary form)
American English
- N/A (The adjective is 'local', not 'localized' as a primary form)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
We need to localize our marketing campaign for the Japanese market, including currency and cultural references.
Academic
The study aims to localize the neural activity associated with this specific cognitive task.
Everyday
The doctor is trying to localize the source of my back pain.
Technical
The engineering team used triangulation to localize the fault in the network.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “localize”
- Using 'localize' to mean 'to find a new place to live' (correct: 'relocate').
- Confusing 'localize' (adapt/restrict) with 'locate' (find/discover the position of).
- Misspelling as 'localise' in American contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Locate' means to discover the exact place or position of something. 'Localize' often means to restrict something to a specific area (e.g., an infection) or to adapt something for a locale. While they can overlap (pinpointing a location), 'localize' implies a more precise confinement or adaptation.
Yes, 'localise' is the standard British English spelling. The '-ize' spelling is also accepted in some UK contexts (especially in technical fields) but '-ise' is more common. American English exclusively uses 'localize'.
Yes, but it tends to sound slightly formal or technical. In everyday talk, people might say 'pinpoint the pain' instead of 'localize the pain', or 'adapt the ad' instead of 'localize the ad'. It is perfectly understandable.
The primary noun is 'localization' (US) / 'localisation' (UK). It refers to the process or result of localizing. Example: 'The localization of the software for the Asian market was complex.'
To restrict something to or adapt it for a particular place or region.
Localize is usually formal, technical, business in register.
Localize: in British English it is pronounced /ˈləʊ.kə.laɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈloʊ.kə.laɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Localize the damage”
- “Think global, act local (adapted)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a LOCAL area. To 'LOCAL-ize' is to make something suitable for that LOCAL area or to find its exact LOCAL position.
Conceptual Metaphor
ADAPTATION IS TAILORING (a product to a market). FINDING IS PINPOINTING (a location on a map).
Practice
Quiz
In a medical report, 'The infection appears to be localized' most closely means: