homogenize

American  

[huh-moj-uh-nahyz, hoh-] / həˈmɒdʒ əˌnaɪz, hoʊ- /

especially British, homogenise

verb (used with object)

homogenized, homogenizing

1. to form by blending unlike elements; make homogeneous.

2. to prepare an emulsion, as by reducing the size of the fat globules in (milk or cream) in order to distribute them equally throughout.

3. to make uniform or similar, as in composition or function.

   to homogenize school systems.

4. Metallurgy. to subject (metal) to high temperature to ensure uniform diffusion of components.

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verb (used without object)

homogenized, homogenizing

1. to become homogenized.

homogenize British  

/ hɒˈmɒdʒɪˌnaɪz /

verb

1. (tr) to break up the fat globules in (milk or cream) so that they are evenly distributed

2. to make or become homogeneous

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Other Word Forms

• homogenization noun
• homogenizer noun
• overhomogenize verb (used with object)
• unhomogenized adjective

Etymology

Origin of homogenize

First recorded in 1885–90; homogen(eous) + -ize

Explanation

To homogenize is to make something the same, or similar. When dairies homogenize milk, they mix it so the cream isn't separate from the rest of the milk, but instead all the liquid is the same consistency. When food processors homogenize milk, they make it uniform or alike, and when circumstances homogenize a neighborhood or school, the result is a group of people who generally all resemble each other. You might complain that high rents and gentrification in your town have homogenized it, leaving only wealthy professionals able to afford to live there. The Greek root, homogenes, means "of the same kind."

Example Sentences

“Crash” eschewed Charli’s typical boundary-pushing electronic sound to aim for something notably more commercial, and, ever the rebel, Charli attempted to homogenize this marketable music with visual ideas that were more to her own taste.

From Salon • Feb. 8, 2026

"We tried to homogenize the point density equally year by year to make comparative metrics," Choi said.

From Science Daily • Feb. 6, 2024

“When you homogenize a city, you destroy its feeling of urbanity,” Ms. Schulman said, referring to the banks and drugstores and chains retailers steadily wallpapering over the city’s indispensable quiddities.

From New York Times • Feb. 25, 2020

There is no real ability to homogenize a plate of food in a restaurant.’”

From The Verge • Apr. 1, 2019

The shared brief episode of communism failed to homogenize these parts of the continent.

From The Belgian Curtain Europe after Communism by Vaknin, Samuel

Related Words

• accommodate
• adapt
• blend in