paganize: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareFormal/Literary, often found in historical, religious, or academic contexts.
Quick answer
What does “paganize” mean?
To convert someone or something to paganism.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To convert someone or something to paganism; to make pagan in character.
To adopt or introduce pagan beliefs, practices, or qualities; to imbue with a pagan spirit or outlook, often in a broader cultural or metaphorical sense beyond strict religious conversion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling variation: 'paganise' is a possible British alternative, though '-ize' is also standard.
Connotations
Equally rare and formal in both varieties. The connotation is heavily dependent on the writer's viewpoint (neutral historical description vs. negative judgment).
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both corpora, slightly more likely in historical or theological academic texts.
Grammar
How to Use “paganize” in a Sentence
[Subject] paganize [Direct Object] (e.g., The ruler paganized the province.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “paganize” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The late Roman emperors attempted to paganise the empire, reversing the trend towards Christianity.
- Critics accused the new festival of seeking to paganise a traditionally Christian holiday.
American English
- The cult leader tried to paganize the small town by introducing ancient nature worship.
- Some scholars argue that syncretism did not paganize early Christianity but enriched it.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, religious studies, or anthropological texts to describe cultural/religious shifts.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Used in theology or historiography as a precise term for a specific type of religious conversion.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “paganize”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “paganize”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “paganize”
- Using it intransitively (e.g., 'The society paganized.'). It requires an object.
- Confusing it with 'pagan' as an adjective or noun.
- Misspelling as 'pagenize'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a rare and formal word, primarily used in historical, religious, or academic writing.
Typically, it is neutral or negative. From a pagan revivalist perspective, it might be used positively, but this is uncommon. Most usage is descriptive or critical.
The related nouns are 'paganization' (the process) and 'paganizer' (a person who does it).
They are near synonyms. 'Paganize' is more common and often associated with the classical polytheism of Greeks and Romans. 'Heathenize' is even rarer and can carry stronger negative, sometimes barbaric, connotations.
To convert someone or something to paganism.
Paganize is usually formal/literary, often found in historical, religious, or academic contexts. in register.
Paganize: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpeɪɡənaɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpeɪɡəˌnaɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a page (from a history book) turning into an ancient idol. The page is being made PAGAN – to PAGANIZE is to make something pagan.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONVERSION IS A CHANGE OF SPIRITUAL LANDSCAPE. (e.g., 'They sought to paganize the spiritual geography of the land.')
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb 'paganize' most accurately used?