mongrelize: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Very Rare)Formal / Literary (often pejorative)
Quick answer
What does “mongrelize” mean?
To cause (a breed, race, or language) to become mixed or hybridized, to degrade purity.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To cause (a breed, race, or language) to become mixed or hybridized, to degrade purity.
To corrupt or spoil the original character of something by mixing disparate elements, often with negative connotations of impurity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more historical usage in British English, tied to colonial and class discourses. In contemporary use, rare in both, with American usage potentially more prominent in socio-political debates on immigration and multiculturalism.
Connotations
In both, heavily loaded, often associated with racist or nativist ideologies. Can be used critically in academia to describe such ideologies.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. Most common in historical texts or critical discourse analysis.
Grammar
How to Use “mongrelize” in a Sentence
[Subject] mongrelizes [Object] (e.g., Immigration mongrelizes the nation.)[Subject] is mongrelized by [Agent] (e.g., The language was mongrelized by foreign influences.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mongrelize” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Some 19th-century theorists argued that immigration would mongrelize the British populace.
- Critics claimed the new slang was mongrelizing the Queen's English.
American English
- The pamphlet warned that open borders would mongrelize American society.
- Purists feared that loanwords would mongrelize the language.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverb form. Potentially 'mongrelizingly', but it is non-standard and exceedingly rare.)
American English
- (No standard adverb form.)
adjective
British English
- (Derived form: mongrelized) The linguist studied the mongrelized dialect of the port city.
- He lamented the mongrelized version of the classic recipe.
American English
- (Derived form: mongrelized) The concept of a mongrelized culture was central to the debate.
- They argued against what they called a mongrelized educational curriculum.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or critical race studies to analyse discourses of racial purity and xenophobia.
Everyday
Extremely rare and would be highly offensive if used in a social context.
Technical
Could appear in historical texts on animal breeding, but 'crossbreed' or 'hybridize' are neutral, preferred terms.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mongrelize”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mongrelize”
- Using it as a neutral synonym for 'mix' or 'diversify'.
- Misspelling as 'mongralize' or 'mongerlize'.
- Confusing it with 'modernize' due to vague phonetic similarity.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when applied to people, cultures, or languages, it is almost always considered offensive and pejorative, carrying strong connotations of impurity and degradation. Its use is generally confined to quoting or critiquing racist or nativist ideologies.
Extremely rarely. Its inherent meaning is negative (to corrupt by mixing). A neutral or positive process of mixing would be described with words like 'hybridize', 'blend', 'fuse', or 'diversify'.
'Hybridize' is a neutral, often technical term for combining different elements. 'Mongrelize' is a value-laden, derogatory term that implies the mixture is undesirable and debasing.
Primarily for recognition and comprehension in advanced historical, political, or sociological texts. Active use is strongly discouraged due to its offensive nature, but understanding its meaning and connotations is important for critical literacy.
To cause (a breed, race, or language) to become mixed or hybridized, to degrade purity.
Mongrelize is usually formal / literary (often pejorative) in register.
Mongrelize: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmʌŋɡrəlaɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɑːŋɡrəlaɪz/ /ˈmɔːŋɡ-/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(No common idioms; the word itself functions as a charged concept.)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MONGREL (mixed-breed dog) + IZE (to make) = to make into a mongrel, to mix or corrupt.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL/CULTURAL CHANGE IS CORRUPTION OF PURITY, NATIONS ARE ORGANISMS/BREEDS.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb 'mongrelize' most appropriately (though controversially) used?