Romanize

Pronunciation varies by accent · verb

Meaning

(transitive) To put letters or words written in another writing system into the Latin (Roman) alphabet..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive) To put letters or words written in another writing system into the Latin (Roman) alphabet.
2. (transitive, historical, usually capitalized) To bring under the authority or influence of Rome.
3. (ambitransitive, usually capitalized) To make or become Roman in character or style.
4. (ambitransitive, usually capitalized) To make or become Roman Catholic in religion (by conversion), character or style.
5. (transitive, obsolete) To fill with Latin words or idioms.

Example Sentences

The author romanizes Chinese names using the Wade–Giles system rather than the Pinyin system.

A new system has been invented by which Chinese can be written in our letters as pronounced. This is called by the rather uncouth name of “Romanised.”

Some of the Chinese students had difficulty comprehending the need to Romanize the Chinese etymons.

But since this custome was probably disused before their Invasion or Conquest, and the Romanes confessedly practised the same, since their possession of this Island, the most assured account will fall upon the Romanes, or Brittains Romanized.

[…] perhaps he has Romaniz’d his Grecian Dames too much, and made them speak sometimes as if they had been born in the City of Rome, and under the Empire of Augustus.

Long before this period, it [London] was fully romanized, and the customs, manners, buildings, and arts of the conqueror adopted.

[…] the more primitive times of Protestantism were more leaning to that which Romanizing spirits have called Puritanism.

perhaps too, he [Ben Jonson] did a little to much Romanize our Tongue, leaving the words which he translated almost as much Latine as he found them: wherein though he learnedly followed the Idiom of their language, he did not enough comply with ours.

Synonyms for romanize

Antonyms for romanize

Related Words

Word Forms

• romanizes
• romanizing
• romanized
• romanise
• Romanize
• Romanise

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions