democratize
Americanverb (used with or without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
- de-democratization noun
- de-democratize verb
- democratization noun
- democratizer noun
- redemocratization noun
- redemocratize verb
- undemocratization noun
- undemocratize verb (used with object)
Etymology
Origin of democratize
1790–1800; < French démocratiser, equivalent to démocrate democrat + -iser -ize
Explanation
To democratize is to make an organization more democratic, supporting a system in which all citizens have a voice or a vote. When you democratize your school French club, you allow every member to vote on each decision. You'll most often see the verb democratize in the context of world politics, when countries that have historically not been democracies change their governments to be more democratic. In many cases, other countries, such as the U.S., try to influence such governments to make this change: they democratize them, in other words. The word democratize comes from the Greek root demokratia, "popular government," from demos, "common people," and kratos, "rule."
Vocabulary lists containing democratize
We the People: Dem
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Comparative Political Systems
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-cracy, -crat
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Founded in 2018, the nonprofit seeks to democratize creative opportunity and reimagine community theater by presenting a monthly showcase of three 12-minute plays, all written, developed and performed within that same four-week cycle.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2026
In 2010 one civil rights lawyer confidently proclaimed that our cameras would democratize evidence and bring about “real justice.”
From Slate • Jan. 15, 2026
"By making this resource open, we hope to empower researchers worldwide to build and test new AI models, democratize access to high-quality medical data, and ultimately contribute to better patient care," Deltadahl said.
From Science Daily • Jan. 13, 2026
Plus, the institutions say, it’s serving a more lofty goal: to democratize an art world that often feels exclusionary.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 14, 2025
Equality of servitude goes far to democratize a nation, and common hatred of the tyrant leads to the combination of all classes against him.
From Renaissance in Italy, Volume 1 (of 7) The Age of the Despots by Symonds, John Addington
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
