indigenize

especially British, in·dig·e·nise

[in-dij-uh-nahyz]

verb (used with object)

indigenized, indigenizing 

1. to make indigenous.

2. to increase local participation in or ownership of.

   to indigenize foreign-owned companies.

3. to adapt (beliefs, customs, etc.) to local ways.

Other Word Forms

• indigenization noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of indigenize¹

First recorded in 1950–55; indigen(ous) + -ize

Example Sentences

“To say that China can snap their fingers and indigenize this because they’ve indigenized other things in the past ignores that this might be the single hardest thing in the world for them,” said McGuire, the former NSC official.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

State-backed researchers also identified digital payments as particularly vulnerable to possible Western hacking, according to a review of their work, making a push to indigenize such technology likely.

Read more on Reuters

“I’ve got seven family members who expect a check when I get home. I can’t stand on the side of the road and Indigenize.”

Read more on New York Times

“Indigenous activists say we’ve got to Indigenize and take over these showcases,” Anderson said, with an ever so slight roll of the eyes.

Read more on New York Times

“We’re trying to indigenize this field,” Sweet said, adding that it’s “not about putting Native people under a microscope, but educating people by working toward goals like upholding sovereignty.”

Read more on New York Times