officialize

[ uh-fish-uh-lahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, of·fi·cial·ized, of·fi·cial·iz·ing.

1. to make official; place under official authority or control.

Other Words From

• of·ficial·i·zation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of officialize¹

First recorded in 1840–50; official + -ize

Example Sentences

Zobrist explained: “As soon as you officialize, there is no way back.”

From Los Angeles Times

And in early September the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, Guatemala’s high court, officialized Arévalo’s win.

From Seattle Times

But those results must still be officialized by the country’s electoral court.

From Seattle Times

“It can only officialize discrimination,” she said, “and harm those fleeing conflicts, torture and those who simply want to unite with their families in the US.”

From Washington Post

Moon claimed that Kim’s stated wish to “denuclearise the Korean peninsula” meant that Pyongyang’s decision “to relinquish its nuclear programme has been officialized to a degree that not even those within North Korea can reverse”.

From The Guardian

Related Words

• behave
• operate
• react
• serve