civilize

verb

civ·​i·​lize ˈsi-və-ˌlīz 

civilized; civilizing

transitive verb

1

: to cause to develop out of a primitive state

especially : to bring to a technically advanced and rationally ordered stage of cultural development

2

a

: educate, refine

b

: socialize sense 1

intransitive verb

: to acquire the customs and amenities of a civil community

civilizer noun

Examples of civilize in a Sentence

Her parents hoped that boarding school might civilize her some.

a teacher who had a civilizing influence on the students

He is credited with civilizing the treatment of people with mental illnesses.

efforts to civilize the health-care system

They believed it was their duty to civilize the native people.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Founding Fathers wanted to civilize a country made up of institutional racists, rabid misogynists and bible-thumping Christians who soon added myths of manly gunslingers and stalwart pioneers to the cultural identity. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 20 Nov. 2024

Black religions, like Vodou and Santería, became key targets in this civilizing mission, demonized as pagan, savage, and dangerous. —Aisha M. Beliso-De Jesús / Made By History, TIME, 4 Oct. 2024

Parking is torturous enough through the Melrose corridor on the weekdays, plus giving a restaurant staff off on Saturday and Sunday seems boldly civilized. —Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024

The violence that the banana goliath’s civilizing mission unleashes upon the Colombian landscape and its people is not a bug. —Eduardo Porter, Washington Post, 1 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

civilize

verb

civ·​i·​lize ˈsiv-ə-ˌlīz 

civilized; civilizing

: to cause to develop out of a primitive state

especially : to bring to an advanced stage (as in art, science, and government) of social development

civilized adjective