localize

American  

[loh-kuh-lahyz] / ˈloʊ kəˌlaɪz /

especially British, localise

verb (used with object)

localized, localizing

1. to make local; fix in, or assign or restrict to, a particular place, locality, etc.

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verb (used without object)

localized, localizing

1. to gather, collect, or concentrate in one locality.

localize British  

/ ˈləʊkəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. to make or become local in attitude, behaviour, etc

2. (tr) to restrict or confine (something) to a particular area or part

3. (tr) to assign or ascribe to a particular region

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Other Word Forms

• localizable adjective
• localization noun
• localizer noun
• nonlocalizable adjective
• nonlocalized adjective
• unlocalizable adjective
• unlocalize verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of localize

First recorded in 1785–95; local + -ize

Explanation

To localize is to focus on a small, specific area. The newspaper in your city might localize half of their news coverage, concentrating on just your state. A doctor or dentist will localize pain treatment in certain cases, like when you get a novocaine shot in your gums before getting a cavity filled. Rather than a general painkiller affecting your whole body, this focuses only on the part of your mouth that's affected. You can also localize by adapting something to a specific location. A rural school might localize its schedule by opening later in the fall to allow students to help on family farms, for example.

Example Sentences

Both T1 Energy and Canadian Solar are working to localize supply chains to meet tax bill requirements and secure government incentives.

From Barron's • Dec. 9, 2025

Netflix is already using generative AI to improve the quality of its title recommendations, localize show and film promotional materials globally and assist filmmakers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 21, 2025

They acknowledge and make efforts to localize experiences for American fans.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 22, 2024

Digging deeper, she found that the tumor cells have a molecular imbalance: an increased amount of catalytic proteins exceeds the number of inhibitory ones that normally tamp down and localize the former.

From Science Daily • Jun. 18, 2024

Narrow thoroughfares and courts are, however, a source of danger which may baffle all efforts to localize a fire.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 4 "Finland" to "Fleury, Andre" by Various