Standard Lemma guide

medicalize

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈmɛdɪkəlaɪz/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To make medical; to convert or reduce to a branch of medicine; especially, to pathologize.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *med-der. Proto-Italic *medēōrder. Latin medeor Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icus Latin medicus Proto-Indo-European *h2el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Medieval Latin medicālisbor. French médicalbor. English medical Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English medicalize From medical + -ize.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: lääketieteellistää — to make medical; to convert or reduce to a branch of medicine; especially, to pathologize
  • German: medikalisieren — to make medical; to convert or reduce to a branch of medicine; especially, to pathologize
  • Hungarian: medikalizál — to make medical; to convert or reduce to a branch of medicine; especially, to pathologize
  • Polish: czynić medycznym — to make medical; to convert or reduce to a branch of medicine; especially, to pathologize