popularization
|pop-u-lar-i-za-tion|
🇺🇸
/ˌpɑpjələraɪˈzeɪʃən/
🇬🇧
/ˌpɒpjʊləraɪˈzeɪʃən/
(popularize)
make widely known
Etymology
'popularization' originates from Modern English, specifically the verb 'popularize', where 'popular' ultimately comes from Latin 'popularis' meaning 'of the people' and the suffix '-ize' (via Greek/Latin) meant 'to make or to render'.
'popularization' changed from the verb-form construction 'popularize' + the noun-forming suffix '-ation' (Modern English). 'Popular' came into English from Old French 'populaire', which in turn comes from Latin 'popularis'; the suffixes '-ize'/'-ise' and '-ation' came into English via Late Latin and French.
Initially, roots conveyed 'of the people' (related to 'popular'); over time the combined formation came to mean 'the act of making something accessible or widely accepted among the public', a meaning that has remained into modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act or process of making something popular or widely known among the general public.
The popularization of smartphones changed how people access information.
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Noun 2
the process of adapting specialized or technical knowledge so it is understandable and appealing to a general audience.
The popularization of science helps non-experts engage with new discoveries.
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Last updated: 2025/11/15 17:04