'barbarize' originates from Greek/Latin, specifically the Greek word 'barbarizein' (Greek 'βαρβαρίζω') and the Late Latin 'barbarizare', where the root 'barbar-' (from Greek 'barbaros') meant 'foreign, strange, non-Greek; barbarian'.

'barbarize' changed from the Greek verb 'barbarizein' into Late Latin 'barbarizare', passed through Medieval/Modern French forms (e.g. 'barbariser') and eventually became the modern English verb 'barbarize' (and the -ize spelling in English).

Initially, it meant 'to treat as a foreigner or barbarian (to regard as non-Greek or uncivilized)', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to make barbarous, uncivilized, or brutalize'.