galvanize
verb
Did you know?
Luigi Galvani was an Italian physician and physicist who, in the 1770s, studied the electrical nature of nerve impulses by applying electrical stimulation to frogs’ leg muscles, causing them to contract. Although Galvani’s theory that animal tissue contained an innate electrical impulse was disproven, the French word galvanisme came to refer to a current of electricity especially when produced by chemical action, while the verb galvaniser was used for the action of applying such a current (both words were apparently coined by German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt, who modeled them after the French equivalents of magnetism and magnetize). In English, these words came to life as galvanism and galvanize, respectively. Today their primary senses are figurative: to galvanize a person or group is to spur them into action as if they’ve been jolted with electricity.
Examples of galvanize in a Sentence
Eric Cortellessa, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
His bombastic style, unfiltered rhetoric, and policy disruptions galvanized the Republican base while triggering a seismic reaction among Democrats.
—Nafees Alam, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
Chapman responded to those findings with a campaign to galvanize churches to renew their commitment to giving to the SBC’s collective needs — echoing Iorg’s recent attempts to combat budget shortfalls.
—Liam Adams, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Oct. 2025
The case has galvanized the city, drawing a large amount of volunteers to help police search for Scott.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for galvanize
Cite this Entry
“Galvanize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/galvanize. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
galvanize
verb
Medical Definition
galvanize
transitive verb
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