Westernize

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To change cultural norms, beliefs, or practices in accordance with Western ideals, thus integrating components of Western civilization into other societies
2. The act of altering traditional customs or values to align with those prevalent in Western countries, often resulting in significant societal shifts
3. To adapt the beliefs, traditions, or ways of life typical of Western societies into one's own culture

Etymology: "Westernize" is a plain formation: the English adjective "western" with the suffix "-ize" attached. The suffix has a longer pedigree than the adjective it sits on. It comes from Ancient Greek "-izein" (written -ῐ́ζω in the source), which was borrowed into Late Latin as "-izare", passed through Middle French as "-iser", and entered Middle English as "-isen" before settling into the modern "-ize" spelling in English. So the word is a recent English coinage built from an ancient verb-forming ending. The verb's meaning follows from that suffix. "-ize" makes a verb meaning "to make or cause to become" what the base describes, so "westernize" means to make something conform to Western ways. The base "western" itself goes back to the Old English "westerne," meaning "toward the west," which explains why the word has long carried a directional sense alongside its cultural one.

Synonyms: civilize, modernize, adapt, assimilate, influence

Antonyms: isolate, preserve, reject, resist, dissociate