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.

---

Other Word Forms

Derived 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

From the book’s opening citation of William Faulkner, to Prince Harry’s passionate bond with his wife Meghan, you could almost call the Duke of Sussex’s memoir “The Americanization of Prince Harry.”

From Seattle Times • Jan. 9, 2023

At a time when postwar Japan was rebuilding itself and sensitive to Americanization, confronting Westernization with Japanese tradition was a form of cultural resistance.

From New York Times • Dec. 29, 2022

“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

But afterward, for the rest of the day, I was taught well those skills of numbers and words crucial to my Americanization.

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez