sexualize

[ sek-shoo-uh-lahyz or, especially British, seks-yoo- ]

/ ˈsɛk ʃu əˌlaɪz or, especially British, ˈsɛks yu- /

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verb (used with object), sex·u·al·ized, sex·u·al·iz·ing.

to render sexual; endow with sexual characteristics.

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Also especially British, sex·u·al·ise .

Origin of sexualize

First recorded in 1830–40; sexual + -ize

OTHER WORDS FROM sexualize

sex·u·al·i·za·tion [sek-shoo-uh-lahy-zey-shuhn, seks-yoo-] /ˌsɛk ʃu ə laɪˈzeɪ ʃən, ˌsɛks yu-/ especially British, sex·u·al·i·sa·tion, nounde·sex·u·al·ize; especially British, de·sex·u·al·ise, verb (used with object), de·sex·u·al·ized, de·sex·u·al·iz·ing or (especially British) de·sex·u·al·ised, de·sex·u·al·is·ing.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

British Dictionary definitions for sexualize

sexualize

sexualise

/ (ˈsɛksjʊəˌlaɪz) /

verb

to make or become sexual or sexually aware

to give or acquire sexual associations

Derived forms of sexualize

sexualization or sexualisation, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012