What does virilize mean?
Virilize means to make someone or something appear or become more characteristically masculine, especially by giving them a tougher, stronger, or more sexually mature appearance. The verb is most often transitive: it describes a process, treatment, or act that produces masculine traits in a person, animal, character, or image. In medical contexts, it can refer to the development of traits such as facial hair, a deep voice, or increased musculature, usually as a result of androgen exposure. In literary and visual criticism, it describes the deliberate masculinization of a character or setting. The word carries a neutral technical sense but can sound forceful or dated when applied to people, and its use may raise questions about stereotypes or the treatment of gender. The related noun is virilization, with the British spelling virilisation also common. Virilize is related to virile and virility, all of which derive ultimately from Latin virilis, meaning “manly” or “masculine.”
verbTo make someone or something virile or characteristically masculine. It can also refer to causing masculine physical traits to develop, especially in response to androgens.
- To make a person, character, animal, or artistic representation appear more characteristically masculine.
"The screenwriter rewrote the detective as a tougher man in order to virilize the character."
"Editors sometimes alter a protagonist's appearance to virilize him for a modern audience."
"Excess androgen production can virilize women, producing changes such as facial hair and a deepened voice."
Virilize hides a Latin clue: its root meant “manly” before English turned that quality into an action.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does virilize come from?
The English verb was formed from virile, or the stem viril-, together with the suffix -ize. Its ultimate source is the Latin adjective virilis, meaning “manly” or “masculine,” which is related to the Latin noun vir, meaning “man.” The derivatives virility and virilism share this root, while the form with -ise is the usual British spelling.
Related word forms
How virilize is actually used
This is a relatively formal and sometimes specialized term, used particularly in literary analysis, visual culture, medicine, and biology. It is usually transitive, and the British spelling is commonly virilise. Its application to real people may sound dated or carry implications about imposed masculine stereotypes.
Easily confused with virilize
Virilize means to make something characteristically masculine, whereas vitalize means to give something vitality or animate it.