# galvanize

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈɡælvənaɪ̯z/ · frequency rank #65,912

## Definitions
1. To coat with a layer of metal by electrochemical means.
2. To coat with a layer of metal by electrochemical means.
3. To shock or stimulate into sudden activity, as if by electric shock.
4. To electrify, as by galvanism.
5. To switch sides between Union and Confederate in the American Civil War.

## Etymology
From French galvaniser, from galvanisme, named after Italian physiologist Luigi Aloisio Galvani (1737–1798). By surface analysis, galvano- + -ize.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/galvanize