acclimatize

/əˈklaɪ.məˌtaɪz/

//əˈklaɪ.məˌtaɪz// verb

"acclimatize" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“acclimatize” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
11
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To get used to a new climate, or to a new situation.

Corpus desk

Index EN-acclimatize · acclimatize · English

acclimatize · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-MEGA 11 letters
  • VOW-5 5 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "A" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for acclimatize
PropertyValue
Headwordacclimatize
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/əˈklaɪ.məˌtaɪz/
Letters11
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “acclimatize” in English

acclimatizeranks outside the top 100,000 English headwords, in the long tail of specialist, archaic, or seldom-used vocabulary, exactly the territory where a reader stops mid-sentence to double-check spelling.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

acclimatize is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as averb, transcribed /əˈklaɪ.məˌtaɪz/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for acclimatize, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From acclimate + -ize. First attested in 1836. The correct English form is acclimatize, spelled A-C-C-L-I-M-A-T-I-Z-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To get used to a new climate, or to a new situation.
  2. 2
    To make used to a new climate or one that is different from that which is natural; to inure or habituate to other circumstances; to adapt to the peculiarities of a foreign or strange climate.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how acclimatize appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. acclimatize to the new regulations
  2. It takes time to acclimatize to the thin air of high mountains.

Etymology

From acclimate + -ize. First attested in 1836.

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "acclimatize"?
"acclimatize" is spelled A-C-C-L-I-M-A-T-I-Z-E. The IPA pronunciation is /əˈklaɪ.məˌtaɪz/.
What does "acclimatize" mean?
As a verb, "acclimatize" means: To get used to a new climate, or to a new situation.
How do you pronounce "acclimatize"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "acclimatize" is /əˈklaɪ.məˌtaɪz/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "acclimatize"?
From acclimate + -ize. First attested in 1836. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list