What does globalizing mean?
Globalizing is the present participle of globalize, meaning to make something worldwide or to become worldwide. It is used transitively when an organization, policy, industry, or practice is being extended across national boundaries: a company may be globalizing its services, while technology may be globalizing access to information. It is also used intransitively for a process that spreads internationally, as in the globalization of trade. As an attributive participle, it can describe the forces, trends, or effects responsible for that spread. The term is standard in academic, political, economic, and business writing, although its connotation can vary. It may be neutral and descriptive, but it can also signal criticism of cultural standardization, corporate expansion, or the erosion of local control. Globalizing is therefore useful where the emphasis is on an active process of international extension rather than simply the worldwide status of the thing being described.
verb (present participle)Making something worldwide in scope or operation, or becoming worldwide. It may refer to economic, political, cultural, technological, or institutional change.
- Transitive: making a business, institution, practice, or activity worldwide in scope or operation.
- Intransitive: becoming worldwide in scope, reach, or influence.
"By building a common platform, the startup is globalizing access to specialist medical training."
"By building a common platform, the startup is globalizing access to specialist medical training."
"Even as local tastes endure, the business is globalizing through a network of independent distributors."
The Latin globus meant “globe,” giving globalizing a remarkably direct name: making the whole world the arena of change.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does globalizing come from?
Globalizing derives from globalize, a modern verb formed from global. Global entered English from French global and ultimately from Latin globalis, meaning “of or belonging to the globe,” with globus meaning “globe.” The modern verb emerged in the 20th century in connection with international political and economic developments, and globalizing is its present participle. Related words include globe, globalism, and globular.
Related word forms
How globalizing is actually used
Globalizing is formal or analytical in tone and is especially common in writing about economics, politics, technology, and culture. In constructions such as globalizing forces, the present participle functions attributively. Its connotations range from neutral description to concern about cultural homogenization or the expansion of corporate power.
Easily confused with globalizing
Globalising is the British spelling of globalizing; the two forms have the same meaning and are distinguished only by orthography.