Americanization

American  

[uh-mer-i-kuh-nahy-zey-shuhn, -ni-zey-] / əˌmɛr ɪ kə naɪˈzeɪ ʃən, -nɪˈzeɪ- /

especially British, Americanisation

noun

1. the act or process of conforming, or making something conform, to the values, customs, and institutions of the United States.

   Our organization demonstrates a dynamic, respectful approach to international aid—one that doesn't attempt an Americanization of a foreign people.

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Other Word Forms

• de-Americanization noun

Etymology

Origin of Americanization

Americaniz(e) ( def. ) + -ation ( def. )

Example Sentences

The Russians were annoyed that the subject was Ukraine; the Ukrainians were offended by Copland’s Americanization of their folk music and by Ira Gershwin’s lyrics.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 22, 2025

“It’s the Americanization of Brazilian politics,” said Guilherme Casarões, a political analyst at the Getulio Vargas Foundation in Sao Paulo.

From Washington Post • Oct. 28, 2022

Hagai Levi has been producing works in that vein for years, including the Israeli “BeTipul” and its Americanization, “In Treatment,” as well as Showtime’s “The Affair,” which applied Bergmanian pathos to a crime mystery.

From New York Times • Sep. 9, 2021

For “The Shadow of Your Smile,” he went first to Mercer, with whom he had written “Emily” from “The Americanization of Emily.”

From Seattle Times • Jun. 30, 2020

Following the dramatic Americanization of their children, even my parents grew more publicly confident.

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez