From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsexualizesex‧u‧a‧lize (also sexualise British English) /ˈsekʃuəlaɪz/ verb [transitive] to make someone or something sexual, especially in a way that is not suitable I worry about the fact that children are sexualized at such a young age. —sexualization /ˌsekʃuəlaɪˈzeɪʃən $ -lə-/ noun [uncountable]