masculinize: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Academic, Medical, Sociological
Quick answer
What does “masculinize” mean?
to make something or someone more masculine.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to make something or someone more masculine; to give male characteristics to.
In biological/medical contexts, to induce the development of male secondary sexual characteristics. In social contexts, to cause a person, behavior, or environment to adopt qualities traditionally associated with masculinity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major lexical difference. 'Masculinise' is the standard British spelling; 'masculinize' is standard American.
Connotations
Similar in both dialects. More frequent in academic/scientific publications than in everyday speech.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects. More likely encountered in medical, biological, or gender studies texts.
Grammar
How to Use “masculinize” in a Sentence
[Subject] masculinizes [Object][Object] is masculinized by [Subject]to masculinize [Object]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “masculinize” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The hormone treatment will masculinise her physical features.
- Some argue that certain sports cultures masculinise behaviour from a young age.
American English
- The therapy is designed to masculinize his appearance.
- Critics claim the new policy will masculinize the corporate environment.
adjective
British English
- The masculinising effects of the drug were documented.
- She studied the masculinised landscape of industrial towns.
American English
- The masculinizing hormone is administered gradually.
- He wrote about the masculinized norms of political discourse.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly used in discussions about workplace culture (e.g., 'The competitive environment masculinized the team's communication style.').
Academic
Common in sociology, biology, medicine, and gender studies (e.g., 'The study examines how prenatal hormones masculinize the brain.').
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation.
Technical
Specific use in endocrinology and transgender healthcare (e.g., 'Testosterone therapy is used to masculinize the body.').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “masculinize”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “masculinize”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “masculinize”
- Using it to mean 'to act like a man' for oneself (reflexive use is less common). Confusing it with 'machoize' or informal terms.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while most common for biological traits or personal attributes, it can be applied metaphorically to environments, cultures, or objects (e.g., 'masculinize a workspace').
The most common noun is 'masculinization' (US) / 'masculinisation' (UK).
Not inherently. In clinical/scientific contexts, it is neutral. In social commentary, its connotation depends on the author's perspective—it can be critical or descriptive.
They are often synonyms in medical contexts. 'Virilize' is more strictly biological, referring to the development of male secondary sex characteristics. 'Masculinize' has a broader use, extending to social and psychological traits.
to make something or someone more masculine.
Masculinize is usually formal, academic, medical, sociological in register.
Masculinize: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmæskjʊlɪnaɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmæskjələˌnaɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'MASCULINE' + 'IZE' (to make). It means 'to make masculine'.
Conceptual Metaphor
MASCULINITY IS AN ADDITIVE SUBSTANCE (you can add it to something).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'masculinize' MOST appropriately used?