channelize

verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"channelize" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

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

Unranked
below top-frequency English
10
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To form a channel, especially by deepening or altering the course of a river.

Key facts for channelize
PropertyValue
Headwordchannelize
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
Letters10
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “channelize” sits in English frequency

channelize falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

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

Rare enough to double-check

channelize is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as averb. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 4 senses are on record.

No misspelling variants are generated for channelize in our index, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From channel + -ize. The correct English form is channelize, spelled C-H-A-N-N-E-L-I-Z-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To form a channel, especially by deepening or altering the course of a river.
  2. 2
    To transmit through a channel.
  3. 3
    To multiplex (messages) through a single line.
  4. 4
    To direct into a specific course or pathway; to channel.

Etymology

From channel + -ize.

This word in other languages

kanalisieren(Deutsch)

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 "channelize"?
"channelize" is spelled C-H-A-N-N-E-L-I-Z-E.
What does "channelize" mean?
As a verb, "channelize" means: To form a channel, especially by deepening or altering the course of a river.
What is the origin of the word "channelize"?
From channel + -ize. 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.

Using “channelize”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is C-H-A-N-N-E-L-I-Z-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list