'politicization' originates from Modern English, specifically formed from the verb 'politicize' plus the noun-forming suffix '-ation', where 'politicize' is built from 'politic' + '-ize' and 'politic' ultimately comes from Greek 'politikós' meaning 'of or relating to citizens/the state'.

'politicization' derived from the verb 'politicize' (attested in English from the 19th century), which itself developed from 'politic' (Middle English) taken from Old French 'politique' and ultimately from Greek 'politikós'; the productive English suffix '-ize' (from Greek/Latin via Old French) formed 'politicize', and '-ation' created 'politicization'.

Initially 'politic-' related broadly to affairs of the city/state ('of citizens' or 'public affairs'), but over time the derived terms came to mean 'to make or treat something as political'; 'politicization' now usually denotes the process of making something political or subject to political influence.