nominalize

[ nom-uh-nl-ahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, nom·i·nal·ized, nom·i·nal·iz·ing.

1. to convert (another part of speech) into a noun, as in changing the adjective lowly into the lowly or the verb legalize into legalization.
2. to convert (an underlying clause) into a noun phrase, as in changing he drinks to his drinking in I am worried about his drinking.

Other Words From

• nomi·nal·i·zation adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nominalize¹

First recorded in 1650–60; nominal + -ize

Example Sentences

It may still be nominalized; inikwihl’minih’isit-’i means “the former small fires in the house, the little fires that were once burning in the house.”

From Project Gutenberg

The nominalizing -’i and the indicative -ma are not fused form-affixes, they are simply additions of formal import.

From Project Gutenberg

It may be definitely nominalized or verbalized by the affixing of elements that are exclusively nominal or verbal in force.

From Project Gutenberg