proselytize

English

Alternative forms

• proselytise (non-Oxford British English)

Etymology

proselyte +‎ -ize

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɒs.əl.ɪ.taɪz/, /ˈpɹɒs.əl.ə.taɪz/

  • Audio (Southern England)

    (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɑ.sə.lɪ.taɪz/, /ˈpɹɑ.sə.lə.taɪz/
  • (Canada) (in addition to the above:) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɑ.zə.lɪ.taɪz/, /ˈpɹɑ.zə.lə.taɪz/

Verb

proselytize (third-person singular simple present proselytizes, present participle proselytizing, simple past and past participle proselytized)

1. (transitive, intransitive, broadly) To advertise one’s religious beliefs; to convert (someone) to one’s own faith or religious movement or encourage them to do so.

   Synonyms: evangelize, convert

   1. (transitive, intransitive, strictly) To coerce into religious conversion.

      Synonym: convert

      Coordinate term: evangelize

   • 1796, Edmund Burke, A Letter from the Right Honourable Edmund Burke to a Noble Lord, on the Attacks Made upon Him and His Pension, , 10th edition, London: J. Owen, , and F and C Rivington, , →OCLC:

     One of these [people] whom they endeavour to proselytize.

   • 1909, Ralph Connor, chapter 14, in The Foreigner:

     “I am not sent here to proselytize. My church is not in that business.”

   • 2001 December 10, Douglas Waller, “A Terror Threat From The South”, in Time:

     Counterterrorism officials believe bin Laden has set up cells to proselytize the large Middle East expatriate population living in the area.

   It is illegal to proselytize [children] in some countries

2. (by extension, transitive, intransitive) 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.

   Synonyms: advocate, back, endorse, peddle, recruit

   He has strong political views, and an annoying habit of proselytizing at parties.

   • 2010, Dolly Freed, Possum Living, page 149:

     Previously I promised not to proselytize miserism, but now I want to renege a little on that promise. If your family income is anywhere near average, you can scrimp and save and cut back for maybe two to four years […]

Related terms

• proselyte
• proselytism

Translations

Further reading

• “proselytize”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.