What does virilising mean?
Virilising is the British-English present participle and gerund of virilise, the process of making someone or something seem more manly or masculine. The US usually spells the verb “virilizing.” In current usage, the word most often describes physical changes associated with male puberty, including a deeper voice, facial hair, or other secondary sexual characteristics; it can also refer more broadly to the deliberate cultivation of masculine appearance, behaviour, or style. Its connotations depend strongly on context. Medical or biological uses tend to be technical and can sound dated, while social and cultural uses often carry a critical edge, suggesting that a person, institution, or design is promoting an exaggerated ideal of masculinity. Because “masculine” and “male” are not interchangeable in every setting, careful writers may prefer “masculinising” when they mean the social construction of gender rather than biological development. The word is related to “virile” and “virility” and ultimately to Latin notions of manliness and courage. It remains more common in British English, although the -ize spelling is standard in American English.
verbMaking someone or something virile; causing masculine physical characteristics or qualities to develop.
- Making someone or something virile; causing masculine physical characteristics or qualities to develop.
- Cultivating an exaggerated or traditionally masculine identity, appearance, behaviour, or style.
"He dismissed the exercise as virilising the language with needless aggression."
"He dismissed the exercise as virilising the language with needless aggression."
"The illness can cause virilising changes, including a deeper voice and increased body hair."
Behind “virilising” lies the Latin idea of virilis: literally, “manly” — a reminder that the word has long been tied to ideas of masculinity.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of virilising
“Virilising” was formed in British English from “virilise” and the suffix “-ing.” It belongs to a word family based on Latin virilis, meaning “manly” or “masculine,” which is associated with virtus, “manliness, valour, or excellence.” This ancestry also accounts for related English words such as “virile,” “virility,” “virtue,” and “virtuous.”
Related word forms
How virilising is actually used
The word is often formal or technical. Biological uses may sound dated in clinical writing, while cultural and social criticism often uses it to suggest the promotion of an exaggerated ideal of masculinity.
Easily confused with virilising
“Virilising” means making something more masculine or virile, whereas “viralising” means causing something to spread rapidly or become widely shared.