What does advertize mean?
"Advertize" is a verb meaning to make something publicly known, most commonly to promote a product, service, or event through media channels with the aim of attracting customers or attention. It is a variant spelling of the far more common "advertise": American English consistently uses the -ize form, while British English has largely settled on -ise, leaving "advertize" as an accepted but minority British spelling. Beyond commerce, the word covers any act of public announcement — a company may advertize a job vacancy, or a person may advertize their skills or intentions. The word derives from Latin roots meaning "to turn toward," reflecting its core function of drawing public attention toward something. In modern usage it appears in both formal business writing and casual conversation, typically carrying a neutral, commercial tone. Writers should note that choosing "advertize" over "advertise" may look like an error to many readers, so the standard spelling is usually the safer choice unless a house style explicitly calls for -ize forms.
verb"Advertize" is a variant spelling of "advertise," meaning to make something generally known or to promote a product, service, or event publicly in order to attract attention or customers.
- To promote a product, service, or event publicly through media such as television, print, or online platforms in order to attract buyers or attention.
- To make something generally known, such as announcing a job vacancy, a sale, or one's own intentions or qualities.
"The company decided to advertize its new range of eco-friendly cleaning products across national television."
"The supermarket advertized its weekend discounts in every local newspaper."
"She advertized her services as a freelance designer on several professional networking sites."
The -ize spelling of "advertize" isn't a typo — it's a legitimate British variant that preserves the Greek-derived -izein ending, even though most dictionaries and style guides now favor "advertise."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of advertize
"Advertize" ultimately derives from the Latin verb "advertere," meaning "to turn toward," formed from "ad-" (toward) plus "vertere" (to turn). The word entered English via Old French "avertiss-", the stem of "avertir" (to warn, to turn attention to), and was first used in English in the sense of drawing attention to something. The -ize ending reflects the Greek-derived suffix common in verbs of this type, which accounts for the historical spelling variation between "advertize" and "advertise." Cognates sharing the same Latin root include "advert," "advertisement," and "advertent."
Related word forms
How advertize is actually used
"Advertize" follows the same -ize/-ise variation seen in words like "realize/realise": it is standard in American English to use -ize, while British English traditionally prefers -ise for this word, making "advertize" a recognized but minority British variant. Most modern dictionaries list "advertise" as the primary form. The verb carries a neutral to commercial connotation and is used in both formal business contexts and everyday speech.
Easily confused with advertize
"Advertise" is the standard spelling in both American and British English, while "advertize" is an accepted but less common British variant; the two words mean exactly the same thing.
An "advert" is the noun referring to the advertisement itself (chiefly British), whereas "advertize" is the verb describing the act of promoting something.