proselytize

/ˈpɹɒs.əl.ɪ.taɪz/

//ˈpɹɒs.əl.ɪ.taɪz// verb

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

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

The verdict

“proselytize” is an uncommon English word, ranked #91,948 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#91,948
frequency rank, English
11
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To advertise one’s religious beliefs; to convert (someone) to one’s own faith or religious movement or encourage them to do so.

Key facts for proselytize
PropertyValue
Headwordproselytize
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈpɹɒs.əl.ɪ.taɪz/
Letters11
Frequency rank#91,948
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “proselytize” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). proselytize lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for proselytize is 11 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈpɹɒs.əl.ɪ.taɪz/. Corpus data places it at rank #91,948 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

proselytize doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From proselyte + -ize. The correct English form is proselytize, spelled P-R-O-S-E-L-Y-T-I-Z-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To advertise one’s religious beliefs; to convert (someone) to one’s own faith or religious movement or encourage them to do so.
  2. 2
    To advertise one’s religious beliefs; to convert (someone) to one’s own faith or religious movement or encourage them to do so.
  3. 3
    To advertise a non-religious belief, way of living, cause, point of view, (scientific) hypothesis, social or other position, political party, or other organization; to convince someone to join such a cause or organization or support such a position; to recruit someone.

Etymology

From proselyte + -ize.

This word in other languages

convertir(Español)prosélytiser(Français)bekehren(Deutsch)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "proselytize"?
"proselytize" is spelled P-R-O-S-E-L-Y-T-I-Z-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpɹɒs.əl.ɪ.taɪz/.
What does "proselytize" mean?
As a verb, "proselytize" means: To advertise one’s religious beliefs; to convert (someone) to one’s own faith or religious movement or encourage them to do so.
How do you pronounce "proselytize"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "proselytize" is /ˈpɹɒs.əl.ɪ.taɪz/. 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 "proselytize"?
From proselyte + -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 “proselytize”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is P-R-O-S-E-L-Y-T-I-Z-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈpɹɒs.əl.ɪ.taɪz/ (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 FrequencyWords open word-frequency list