What does regularize mean?
To regularize something is to bring it under a consistent rule, standard, or pattern. The word is used especially in administration, law, education, and institutional management, where an irregular practice or an unclear status may be made uniform: a government might regularize the status of temporary employees, or an organization might regularize its record-keeping procedures. It can also have a linguistic sense. A language learner or grammarian may regularize an irregular verb by applying the usual pattern, such as adding the regular plural suffix to a noun. Regularize therefore combines the general idea of conformity with the more specialized idea of making an exception fit a broader system. Although fairly uncommon in casual conversation, it is precise and useful when discussing standards, consistency, and deliberate changes to established patterns.
To make something regular, uniform, or consistent with a rule or standard.
"The new legislation regularized the licensing process for small businesses."
Often used in formal or institutional contexts.
To make an irregular word or grammatical form conform to a regular pattern.
"The exercise asks students to regularize the verb in each sentence."
This is a specialized linguistic use.
Just as a team can regularize its playing roster, a linguist can regularize a word by making its pattern fit the rule.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does regularize come from?
Regularize was formed in the early 19th century from the adjective regular and the suffix -ize. Regular comes through Medieval Latin regularis from Latin regula, meaning “rule” or “standard”; that word in turn comes from regere, “to rule” or “to direct.” The same Latin root is reflected in cognates such as regulate, regulation, and regiment, all of which share the idea of directing, ordering, or bringing conduct under a rule.
Related word forms
How regularize is actually used
The word is formal and relatively uncommon in everyday speech. In grammar, it usually implies changing or treating a form as though it follows the regular pattern; in administration and law, it often means bringing a practice or status into accordance with an established rule.
Easily confused with regularize
Regular is an adjective describing something that follows a consistent pattern, while regularize is a verb describing the act of making something follow such a pattern.