commodify

verb

com·​mod·​i·​fy kə-ˈmä-də-ˌfī How to pronounce commodify (audio)
commodified; commodifying

transitive verb

: to turn (something, such as an intrinsic value or a work of art) into a commodity
attempts to commodify the water supply
commodification noun

Examples of commodify in a Sentence

Do we really want to commodify our water supply? I feel like our culture is being commodified.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Critics argue these policies effectively commodify citizenship, potentially undermining social cohesion. David Faris, Newsweek, 2 Nov. 2024 And the logic of marketing dictates that dating apps commodify people into legible archetypes for an easy sale. Josh Greenblatt, WIRED, 17 July 2024 Will the drive to commodify ancient practices defile them? Oshan Jarow, Vox, 7 June 2024 But the pursuit of online fame, particularly through Instagram, has supercharged the often toxic phenomenon, The Times found, encouraging parents to commodify their children’s images. Michael H. Keller, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for commodify 

Word History

Etymology

see commodity

First Known Use

1976, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of commodify was in 1976

Dictionary Entries Near commodify

Cite this Entry

“Commodify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commodify. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on commodify

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