Commoditizes

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To transform distinct products or services into interchangeable items that lack differentiation in quality or value
2. To simplify unique offerings into standard commodities that can be traded or sold without distinguishing features
3. To convert products or services so they are regarded as similar and easily replaceable with others of the same type

Etymology: The word is a modern formation: "commodity" with the suffix "-ize" added. "Commodity" came into English in the 15th century, borrowed from Old French "commodite," which descended from Latin "commoditas," meaning convenience or advantage, from "commodus," meaning suitable or convenient. Its earliest sense was something useful or advantageous, and only later did it come to mean a thing bought and sold. The suffix "-ize" traces back through Middle French, Late Latin, and Ancient Greek "-izein," a verb-making ending. Adding it to "commodity" yields a verb meaning to turn something into a commodity. The term describes goods or services that have been stripped of distinguishing features, so buyers see one as interchangeable with another, such as generic bulk grain or basic bandwidth.

Synonyms: commercializes