Standard Lemma guide

mercerize

verb · 2 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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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To treat (cotton fabric) with sodium hydroxide to make it more lustrous and accepting of dyes.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

treat to strengthen and improve the luster

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • mercerize cotton

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: mercerise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: process, treat

History

Etymology

From Mercer + -ize, named after John Mercer of Great Harwood, Lancashire, who invented the process in the mid-19th century.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: merceritzar — to treat cotton with NaOH
  • Finnish: merseroida — to treat cotton with NaOH
  • German: merzerisieren — to treat cotton with NaOH
  • Italian: mercerizzare — to treat cotton with NaOH
  • Romanian: merceriza — to treat cotton with NaOH
  • Spanish: mercerizar — to treat cotton with NaOH