externalize

verb

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

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

The verdict

“externalize” 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 May 6, 2026) - To make something external or objective.

Key facts for externalize
PropertyValue
Headwordexternalize
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
Letters11
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “externalize” sits in English frequency

externalize 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

externalize 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 externalize in our index, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From external + -ize. The correct English form is externalize, spelled E-X-T-E-R-N-A-L-I-Z-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To make something external or objective.
  2. 2
    To represent something abstract or intangible as material; to embody.
  3. 3
    To attribute emotions etc to external circumstances; to project.
  4. 4
    To direct to others, as costs or benefits.

Etymology

From external + -ize.

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 "externalize"?
"externalize" is spelled E-X-T-E-R-N-A-L-I-Z-E.
What does "externalize" mean?
As a verb, "externalize" means: To make something external or objective.
What is the origin of the word "externalize"?
From external + -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 “externalize”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is E-X-T-E-R-N-A-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