sexualize

verb

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *sek-der. Proto-Indo-European *séks-u-sder. Proto-Italic *seksus Latin sexus Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Latin sexuālisbor. English sexual Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English sexualize From sexual + -ize.

1. To render sexual, or apply sex appeal to (a person, thing, or concept).

   “Children’s beauty pageants sexualize childhood.”

   “Your advertising doesn't need to sexualize goods and services to sell them to me, and in fact I might make a point of not buying your product if you pester me with sexualization.”

2. To distinguish as belonging to separate sexes.