galvanize

American  

[gal-vuh-nahyz] / ˈgæl vəˌnaɪz /

especially British, galvanise

verb (used with object)

galvanized, galvanizing

1. to stimulate by or as if by a galvanic current.

2. Medicine/Medical. to stimulate or treat (muscles or nerves) with induced direct current (distinguished from faradize).

3. to startle into sudden activity; stimulate.

   Synonyms:

   animate, spur, fire, electrify, stir, rouse

4. to coat (metal, especially iron or steel) with zinc.

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galvanize British  

/ ˈɡælvəˌnaɪz /

verb

1. to stimulate to action; excite; startle

2. to cover (iron, steel, etc) with a protective zinc coating by dipping into molten zinc or by electrodeposition

3. to stimulate by application of an electric current

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noun

1. galvanized iron, usually in the form of corrugated sheets as used in roofing

Other Word Forms

• galvanization
  noun
• galvanizer
  noun
• nongalvanized
  adjective
• pregalvanize
  verb (used with object)
• regalvanization
  noun
• regalvanize
  verb (used with object)
• ungalvanized
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of galvanize

First recorded in 1795–1805; from French galvaniser, named after Luigi Galvani; see -ize

Explanation

The verb galvanize means to stimulate or incite someone into taking action. Your impassioned speech might galvanize the other members of the Ecology Club to start a school-wide recycling initiative. The word galvanize initially meant "to stimulate muscles by administering electric shocks." It was coined to honor the 18th-century scientist Luigi Galvani, who found that a spark could make a frog's legs move. This discovery of "animal electricity" inspired Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, (a novel in which a mad scientist attempts to use electricity to galvanize a monster to life). Galvanize also means to cover steel or iron with zinc so it doesn’t rust.

Example Sentences

"We hope that this study will galvanize efforts to have yeast on board in future space explorations."

From Science Daily • Feb. 8, 2026

César Caballero, director of the Colombian pollster Cifras y Conceptos, said Petro sees an opportunity to galvanize support ahead of next May’s presidential elections.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 21, 2025

Five years since 17-year-old Darnella Frazier stood on the curb outside Cup Foods, raised her phone, and bore witness to nine minutes and 29 seconds that would galvanize a global movement against racial inequality.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2025

The Stonewall uprising helped galvanize the gay rights movement.

From New York Times • Nov. 30, 2024

“Kudirat’s death will not be in vain, it will only galvanize the democratic movement in a way that even her life did not! I just wrote an article about this issue online in Nigerian Village.”

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

• arouse
• astonish
• energize
• excite
• frighten
• invigorate
• jolt
• motivate
• provoke
• shock
• spur
• startle
• stir
• stun