temporize
/ˈtɛmpəɹaɪz/
"temporize" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“temporize” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 9
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To deliberately act evasively or prolong a discussion in order to gain time or postpone a decision, sometimes so that a compromise can be reached or simply to make a conversation more temperate; to...
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | temporize |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Verb |
| IPA | /ˈtɛmpəɹaɪz/ |
| Letters | 9 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “temporize” sits in English frequency
Rare enough to double-check
temporize is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as averb, transcribed /ˈtɛmpəɹaɪz/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 6 senses are on record.
The misspelling generator found no plausible variants for temporize, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.
Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle French temporiser (“to wait one's time, temporize”) + English -ize (suffix forming verbs). Temporiser is derived from Medieval Latin temporizāre, from Latin temporāre (“to delay, put off”) + -izāre (suffix forming the present active infinitive o… The correct English form is temporize, spelled T-E-M-P-O-R-I-Z-E.
Definition
- 1To deliberately act evasively or prolong a discussion in order to gain time or postpone a decision, sometimes so that a compromise can be reached or simply to make a conversation more temperate; to stall for time.
- 2To discuss, to negotiate; to reach a compromise.
- 3To apply a temporary piece of dental work that will later be removed.
- 4To comply with the occasion or time; to humour, or yield to, current circumstances or opinion; also, to trim (“fluctuate between parties, so as to appear to favour each”).
- 5To delay, especially until a more favourable time; to procrastinate.
- 6To take temporary measures or actions to manage a situation without providing a definitive or permanent solution.
Etymology
From Middle French temporiser (“to wait one's time, temporize”) + English -ize (suffix forming verbs). Temporiser is derived from Medieval Latin temporizāre, from Latin temporāre (“to delay, put off”) + -izāre (suffix forming the present active infinitive of verbs). Temporāre is derived from tempor-, the inflected stem of tempus (“age, time, period; season of the year; due, opportune, or proper time”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *temp-, *ten- (“to extend, stretch (in the sense of a stretch of time)”), or *temh₁- (“to cut (in the sense of a section of time)”)) + -āre. Compare temporalize.
This word in other languages
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
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Using “temporize”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is T-E-M-P-O-R-I-Z-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈtɛmpəɹaɪz/ (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.