medicalization
|med-i-ca-li-za-tion|
🇺🇸
/ˌmɛdɪkələˈzeɪʃən/
🇬🇧
/ˌmɛdɪk(ə)lɪˈzeɪʃ(ə)n/
making something medical
Etymology
'medicalization' originates from modern English, specifically the word 'medicalize' with the suffix '-ation', where 'medical' meant 'relating to medicine', '-ize' meant 'to make', and '-ation' indicated 'action or process'.
'medicalization' developed from the verb 'medicalize' (formed in the 19th century) which in turn built on the adjective 'medical' (from Latin 'medicus' meaning 'physician'); these elements combined into the noun 'medicalization' to denote the process or result.
Initially it meant 'the act of making something medical or treating it medically', but over time it evolved into the broader sociological concept of defining social or personal issues as medical problems.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the process by which behaviors, conditions, or problems come to be defined and treated as medical conditions, often requiring medical intervention.
The medicalization of childbirth has led to more births in hospitals and more use of medical interventions.
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Noun 2
the act or process of making something medical in nature or bringing it under the authority and practices of medicine.
Critics worry that the medicalization of everyday problems can lead to overdiagnosis and overtreatment.
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Last updated: 2026/01/15 23:16