Definition

To classify a condition or behavior as a medical issue that needs treatment or intervention.

Example

The new guidelines aim to medicalize certain behaviors that were previously considered normal.

Tense Forms

Conversation

I was reading about how some behaviors are medicalized these days.

Yeah, I've noticed that too; it's like everything gets labeled as a disorder.

Exactly! It makes me wonder if we're overreacting to normal childhood behaviors.

True, sometimes kids just need more guidance rather than a diagnosis.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Medicalize → It is formed from "medical" (from Latin "medicus", meaning physician or healer) and "-ize" (a suffix used to form verbs indicating to make or to become). The word "medicalize" means to make something medical in nature or to treat it as a medical issue.

Memory Tip

Think of 'medical' relating to healing and 'ize' meaning to make — so when something is medicalized, it is made to be treated as a medical issue.

Visually Confused Words