unwesternized
|un-west-ern-ized|
/ˌʌnˈwɛstərnaɪzd/
not influenced by the West
Etymology
'unwesternized' originates from English elements: the prefix 'un-' (from Old English 'un-') meaning 'not' plus 'westernized', itself formed from 'western' + suffix '-ize' (from Greek/Latin-derived verb-forming suffix via French/Latin use), where 'western' relates to 'west'.
'unwesternized' changed from the adjective 'western' (from Old English 'west') to the verb-forming 'westernize' (western + -ize), then to the past/adjective 'westernized', and finally formed as 'un-' + 'westernized' to give 'unwesternized' in modern English.
Initially, related words meant 'of or pertaining to the west' (from 'west'); over time 'westernize' came to mean 'make western in character or style', and 'unwesternized' developed to mean 'not made western' or 'not affected by Western influence'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not influenced by Western culture, norms, or institutions; retaining indigenous or non-Western cultural characteristics.
Many rural communities remained unwesternized long after the cities had modernized.
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Adjective 2
not adapted to Western styles, systems, or standards (often used in contrast to Westernized modernization or cultural assimilation).
The museum exhibited unwesternized architectural forms that predated colonial influence.
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Last updated: 2025/11/29 11:14