balkanize

Bal·kan·ize

B b

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [bawl-kuh-nahyz]
- /ˈbɔl kəˌnaɪz/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [bawl-kuh-nahyz]
- /ˈbɔl kəˌnaɪz/

Definitions of balkanize word

verb balkanize to divide (a territory) into small warring states 3
verb balkanize to divide (a group or organization) into small factions 3
verb transitive balkanize to break up into small, mutually hostile political units, as the Balkans after WWI 3
verb with object balkanize to divide (a country, territory, etc.) into small, quarrelsome, ineffectual states. 1
verb with object balkanize (often lowercase) to divide (groups, areas, etc.) into contending and usually ineffectual factions: a movement to balkanize minority voters. 1
noun balkanize Alternative case form of Balkanize. 1

See all 7 definitions of balkanize

Information block about the term

Origin of balkanize

First appearance:

before 1915

One of the 14% newest English words

First recorded in 1915-20; Balkan + -ize

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Balkanize

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Balkanize

balkanize popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 43% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.

According to our data about 63% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.

balkanize usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer