colorize

/ˈkʌ.lə.raɪz/

//ˈkʌ.lə.raɪz// verb

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

"colorize" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

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

Unranked
below top-frequency English
8
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To add color to.

Key facts for colorize
PropertyValue
Headwordcolorize
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈkʌ.lə.raɪz/
Letters8
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “colorize” sits in English frequency

colorize 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

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

No misspelling variants are generated for colorize in our index, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From color + -ize. The correct English form is colorize, spelled C-O-L-O-R-I-Z-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To add color to.
  2. 2
    To convert black and white media to color by digital post production (as is often done in digital photography and in video special effects).

Etymology

From color + -ize.

Synonyms

colorcolor in

Antonyms

discolor

This word in other languages

coloriser(Français)kolorieren(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 "colorize"?
"colorize" is spelled C-O-L-O-R-I-Z-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkʌ.lə.raɪz/.
What does "colorize" mean?
As a verb, "colorize" means: To add color to.
How do you pronounce "colorize"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "colorize" is /ˈkʌ.lə.raɪz/. 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 "colorize"?
From color + -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 “colorize”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is C-O-L-O-R-I-Z-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈkʌ.lə.raɪz/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • 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