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homogenize

huh-MOJ-uh-nyze /həˈmɒdʒ.ə.naɪz/

verbC1GREGMATIELTS

AcademicCriticalSociological

To make uniform or similar; to eliminate variety or cultural differences in favor of a single standard.

Often used with a negative connotation, suggesting that unique cultural 'flavors' are being crushed into a bland, identical mass.

The story behind the word. From the Greek 'homos' (same) and 'genos' (kind). It originally described substances in chemistry that were uniform throughout. It wasn't until the mid-20th century that sociologists began using it to describe the 'blending out' of cultural differences.

Word relationships

standardize: Standardize means to make things follow a rule; homogenize means to make them look and feel exactly the same.

diversify: To add variety and different elements.
differentiate: To recognize or create differences between things.

Commonly confused with

assimilate: Assimilation is the process a person goes through; homogenizing is what a system or force does to a whole group.

Word family

homogeneity (noun): The quality or state of being all the same or all of the same kind.
homogeneous (adjective): Of the same kind; alike.

Collocations

homogenize culture
homogenize society
tendency to homogenize
increasingly homogenized

Example sentences

"Critics argue that global fast-food chains tend to homogenize local diets, replacing traditional cuisines with a standardized menu." Critiquing global consumerism.
"The tendency of mass media to homogenize culture is a central concern for those studying the effects of globalization." Sociological theory on mass media.

Memory hook

Think of 'Homo-Genius'. If everyone is the same kind (homo-gen), the society is homogenized. Make it the same.

When not to use

In science, it's a neutral term (like homogenizing milk); in sociology, it's almost always a critique of lost diversity.

Fun facts

Homogenized milk is processed so that the fat doesn't separate from the liquid, creating a uniform texture—just like a homogenized society doesn't have 'pockets' of difference.