otherize
Low to Medium (Specialized)Formal, Academic, Critical/Theory Discourse
Definition
Meaning
To treat or perceive someone as fundamentally different from and alien to oneself or one's group; to exclude or marginalize by emphasizing differences.
A sociopolitical or psychological process of constructing 'the other' by defining groups as 'not us,' often leading to stereotyping, discrimination, or dehumanization. Used in critical discourse on identity, power, and social exclusion.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term carries a critical, often negative connotation. It implies a deliberate or systemic act of creating an 'us vs. them' dichotomy, stripping individuals of their individual identity and reducing them to a member of an out-group.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'otherize' is standard in American English. The British variant 'otherise' (with an 's') is also accepted but less common. The term is used similarly in academic and critical contexts in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical in critical and academic use. It may be perceived as jargon outside of these contexts.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American academic writing, but the concept is central to postcolonial and critical theory globally.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] otherizes [Object/Group]The discourse otherizes [Object/Group] as [Attribute]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To make someone the 'other'”
- “To create an 'us and them' divide”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. May appear in DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) discussions about avoiding practices that exclude certain demographics.
Academic
Very Common. Found in sociology, anthropology, postcolonial studies, critical race theory, and political science texts analyzing power dynamics and social identity.
Everyday
Very Rare. Might be used in educated discussions about social issues.
Technical
Common as a technical term in the social sciences and humanities.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The media narrative can often otherise entire communities, painting them with a broad brush.
- Historically, colonial powers would otherise indigenous populations to justify domination.
American English
- Politicians sometimes otherize their opponents to galvanize their base.
- The study analyzes how the language of the law was used to otherize immigrants.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard; no direct adverb form exists. Use 'in an otherising manner'.)
American English
- (Not standard; no direct adverb form exists. Use 'in an otherizing way'.)
adjective
British English
- (Not standard; the participial adjective 'otherized' is used.) The otherised group felt increasingly alienated from mainstream society.
American English
- (Not standard; the participial adjective 'otherized' is used.) The otherized community developed its own support networks in response.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Too complex for A2; concept not covered.)
- It is wrong to otherize people just because they come from a different country.
- Nationalist rhetoric often seeks to otherize minority groups, blaming them for social problems.
- The author's central thesis is that the imperial gaze functions primarily to otherize the colonized subject, rendering them knowable only through stereotypes.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Make them the OTHER' + '-ize' (to make into). You 'other-ize' someone when you make them seem like a foreign 'other.'
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY IS A CONTAINER (with an inside 'us' and an outside 'them'); SOCIAL EXCLUSION IS PUSHING OUT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as 'другоизировать' (non-existent).
- The concept is best captured with phrases like 'делать из кого-либо "другого" / "чужого"' (to make someone into an 'other/alien'), 'отчуждать', 'маргинализировать'.
- The English term is a specific critical concept; a simple verb like 'различать' (to distinguish) misses the negative, exclusionary meaning.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a synonym for simple 'dislike' or 'disagree with.'
- Spelling: 'otherise' (UK) vs. 'otherize' (US) – but 'otherize' is generally accepted globally.
- Pronouncing it as /ˈɒðəraɪz/ instead of /ˈʌðəraɪz/. The first vowel is like the 'u' in 'up.'
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'otherize' MOST commonly used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. While it is a relatively modern coinage (20th century), it is well-established in academic and critical discourse within the social sciences and humanities.
'Discriminate' focuses on unfair treatment based on prejudice. 'Otherize' focuses on the prior, psychological or rhetorical process of constructing the group as fundamentally different and 'not us,' which then enables discrimination.
Almost never. The term is inherently critical, describing a process viewed as negative and harmful to social cohesion. Using it neutrally (e.g., 'The biologist otherized the new species') would sound very strange and likely incorrect.
The process is 'otherization' (or 'otherisation'). The state of being otherized can be described as 'otherness,' though this noun has a broader philosophical meaning.