Dictionary

galvanize en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈɡælvənaɪ̯z/

Etymology

Learned borrowing from French galvaniser. By surface analysis, galvano- + -ize. Named after Italian physiologist Luigi Aloisio Galvani (1737–1798).

Meanings

1. (broadly, dated, transitive) To coat with a layer of metal by electrochemical means.
2. (broadly, dated, transitive, usually) To coat with a layer of metal by electrochemical means. ▸ To coat with a layer of zinc (for rust resistance) by electrochemical means.
   • We then galvanize the steel so that the zinc coating will sacrificially take the corrosion for many years.
3. (figuratively, transitive) To shock or stimulate into sudden activity, as if by electric shock.
   • The girl’s picture helped galvanize public opinion against the administration’s policy.
   • The arrival of the kett stunned and then divided the angara. As described by Jaal, infighting was used as a means of conquest by the kett, but the presence of a common enemy eventually galvanized the angara to work together. The various resistance groups merged into the organized Angaran Resistance roughly five years ago under Evfra de Tershaav's command, supported by prominent families and determined to stop their kett oppressors. 2017, BioWare, Mass Effect: Andromeda (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Angara: The Resistance Codex entry:
   • Republicans are hoping a proposed gas-tax repeal will galvanize their voters.
   • U.S. President Donald Trump’s bombshell proposal to take over the Gaza Strip and relocate its Palestinian inhabitants has made the forced transfer of populations – a war crime – a policy discussion, galvanizing Arab states. 2025 February 6, Taylor Luck, Ghada Abdulfattah, “How Trump’s proposed plan for Gaza has united an outraged Arab world”, in The Christian Science Monitor:
4. (archaic, transitive) To electrify, as by galvanism.
   • The agitations resembled the grinnings and writhings of a galvanized corpse, not the struggles of an athletic man. 1835, Thomas Babington Macaulay, History (essay in the Edinburgh Review)
5. (US, historical, transitive) To switch sides between Union and Confederate in the American Civil War.
   • Reenactors called this “galvanizing,” the Civil War term for soldiers who switched sides during the conflict. 1998, Tony Horwitz, Confederates in the Attic, 1st Vintage Departures edition, Vintage Books, →ISBN, page 10:

Forms

Deriveds

galvanizer · regalvanize · galvanneal · galvanization

Hypernyms

electroplate

Relateds

galvanic

Synonyms

egg on · wake · awaken · urge · electrize · evoke · motivate · electroplate · quicken · whip up · provoke · stoke · inflame · electrify · set off · lash · electrify · enflame · obligate · exsuscitate · electroplate · motive · push · move · prompt · tempt · galvanize · send · startle · electrogalvanize · send · excite · set fire to · zinc · wind up · intoxicate · induce · incite · exagitate · excite · abet · electricalize · fire · cheer · fire the blood · light a fire under · goose · stimulate · invoke · exhilarate · ignite · stir up · whet · spark off · foment · rouse · whet · bring about · fuel · sting · promote · work up · gin up · fillip · stir · sharpen · electrogalvanize · stir the blood · oblige · urge · thrill · encourage · engender · grill · spur on · actuate · enthrill · enkindle · goad · impel · warm the blood · vitalise · yerk · instigate · rouse · draw · suscitate · drive · animate · animate · spur · ignite · kindle · electricize · inflame · set on fire

Translations (72)

nl galvaniseren (to coat with a thin layer of metal by electrochemical means) · it stimolare (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · nb forsinke (to coat with rust-resistant zinc) · cmn 鍍鋅 /镀锌 (to coat with rust-resistant zinc) · ru гальванизи́ровать (to coat with a thin layer of metal by electrochemical means) · it galvanizzare (to coat with a thin layer of metal by electrochemical means) · ka მოტივირება (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · ja 活性化する (to coat with a thin layer of metal by electrochemical means) · it galvanizzare (to coat with rust-resistant zinc) · nl verzinken (to coat with rust-resistant zinc) · nn forsinka (to coat with rust-resistant zinc) · fi galvanoida (to coat with rust-resistant zinc) · ka გამოცოცხლება (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · cmn 電鍍 /电镀 (to coat with a thin layer of metal by electrochemical means) · es galvanizar (to coat with a thin layer of metal by electrochemical means) · de beleben (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · eo galvanizi (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · nl verzinken (to coat with a thin layer of metal by electrochemical means) · sv galvanisera (to coat with rust-resistant zinc) · de aufrütteln (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · sv galvanisera (to coat with a thin layer of metal by electrochemical means) · et galvaniseerima (to coat with a thin layer of metal by electrochemical means) · cs galvanizovat (to coat with a thin layer of metal by electrochemical means) · bg съживя (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · fi sähköistää (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · bg галванизирам (to coat with a thin layer of metal by electrochemical means) · fo málmklæða (to coat with rust-resistant zinc) · fr galvaniser (to coat with a thin layer of metal by electrochemical means) · da forzinke (to coat with rust-resistant zinc) · bg оживявам (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · bg съживявам (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · it spronare (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · it galvanizzare (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · fr galvaniser (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · es espabilar (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · fi galvanoida (to coat with a thin layer of metal by electrochemical means) · bg поцинковам (to coat with rust-resistant zinc) · it incitare (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · bg оживя (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · ru оцинко́вывать (to coat with rust-resistant zinc) · el γαλβανίζω (to coat with rust-resistant zinc) · el γαλβανίζω (to coat with a thin layer of metal by electrochemical means) · ka გალვანიზება (to coat with a thin layer of metal by electrochemical means) · it spingere (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · da galvanisere (to coat with a thin layer of metal by electrochemical means) · fr galvaniser (to coat with rust-resistant zinc) · pt galvanizar (to coat with rust-resistant zinc) · de verzinken (to coat with rust-resistant zinc) · ru оживи́ть (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · eo galvanizi (to coat with rust-resistant zinc) · de galvanisieren (to coat with a thin layer of metal by electrochemical means) · et galvaniseerima (to coat with rust-resistant zinc) · da galvanisere (to coat with rust-resistant zinc) · eo galvanizi (to coat with a thin layer of metal by electrochemical means) · es galvanizar (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · ka წახალისება (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · ca galvanitzar (to coat with a thin layer of metal by electrochemical means) · es asustar (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · es estimular (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · it elettrizzare (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · es galvanizar (to coat with rust-resistant zinc) · de einen Impuls setzen (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · de wachrütteln (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · ca galvanitzar (to coat with rust-resistant zinc) · nn forsinke (to coat with rust-resistant zinc) · ca galvanitzar (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · de aufschrecken (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · et galvaniseerima (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · ru оцинкова́ть (to coat with rust-resistant zinc) · el ξεσηκώνω (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity) · pt galvanizar (to coat with a thin layer of metal by electrochemical means) · ru оживля́ть (to shock or stimulate into sudden activity)