globalization
UK[ˌɡləʊbəlaɪˈzeɪʃən]US[ˌɡloʊbələˈzeɪʃən]
n
The process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale.
n
The process of making something, such as a product or idea, known and available in many different parts of the world.
Morpheme Breakdown
glob
al
ization
glob
sphere, ball
al
adjective suffix
ization
process of making
Etymology
The word 'globalization' is a modern construction built upon the ancient metaphor of the world as a sphere. Its core, 'glob', originates from the Latin globus, meaning a spherical mass or ball, which was later applied to the planet Earth. The suffix '-al' transforms this into the adjective 'global', meaning worldwide or planetary in scope. Finally, the addition of the process-forming suffix '-ization' (itself from Greek -izein via Latin and French) converts the concept into a noun describing the act or process of making something worldwide in scale or application. Thus, the term literally narrates the "process of making spherical (worldwide)," elegantly capturing the expansion of economic, cultural, and political activities across the globe.
Analysis
Structure: glob (sphere, ball) + al (adjective suffix) + ization (process of making)
glob: From Latin globus (sphere, ball). In this word, it forms the core concept of the world as a spherical entity.
al: A suffix of Latin origin forming adjectives meaning "of, relating to, or characterized by".
ization: A suffix forming nouns of action or process, from the combination of -ize (to make) and -ation (action or process).
Examples
The rapid growth of the internet has been a major driver of economic globalization.
Critics of globalization often point to its impact on local cultures and industries.
The company's strategy shifted towards globalization to access new markets.