lexicalize

L1E1X8I1C3A1L1I1Z10E1
/ˈlɛksɪkəlaɪz/

verb

To become part of the vocabulary of a language as a single lexical unit with a distinct meaning.

Similar
lexicalise
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Meanings

verblexicalize (third-person singular simple present lexicalizes, present participle lexicalizing, simple past and past participle lexicalized)

present singular third person lexicalizes · participle present lexicalizing · participle past lexicalized · past lexicalized · alternative lexicalise

  1. intransitiveTo become part of the vocabulary of a language as a single lexical unit with a distinct meaning.
  2. transitiveTo accept a term into one's own vocabulary as a distinct lexical unit.

    In fact, the child will lexicalize one, two, or three elements of the semantic representation according to his lexicalization span.

    1975, Eric H. Lenneberg, Elizabeth Lenneberg, Foundations of Language Development: A Multidisciplinary Approach, volume 1, page 192

Synonyms & antonyms

verbmake or coin into a word or accept a new word into the lexicon of a language

Similar
lexicalise
Broader
give voiceformulateword

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From lexical + -ize.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan lexicalitzar
  • lexicalitzarto convert to a single lexical unit
Chinese Mandarin 词汇化
  • 词汇化to convert to a single lexical unit
Czech lexikalizovat
  • lexikalizovatto convert to a single lexical unit
Danish leksikalisere
  • leksikalisereto convert to a single lexical unit
French lexicaliser
  • lexicaliserto convert to a single lexical unit
German lexikalisieren
  • lexikalisierento convert to a single lexical unit
Hungarian lexikalizál
  • lexikalizálto convert to a single lexical unit
Polish leksykalizować, zleksykalizować
  • leksykalizowaćto convert to a single lexical unit
  • zleksykalizowaćto convert to a single lexical unit
Russian лексикализо́вывать, лексикализова́ть
  • лексикализо́вывать (leksikalizóvyvatʹ)to convert to a single lexical unit
  • лексикализова́ть (leksikalizovátʹ)to convert to a single lexical unit
Spanish lexicalizar
  • lexicalizarto convert to a single lexical unit
Cite this entry
APA

lexicalize. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lexicalize

MLA

“lexicalize.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lexicalize. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lexicalize,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lexicalize.

Source: lexicalize on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.