reify
/ˈriː.ɪ.faɪ/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To make something abstract, like an idea or plan, seem real or concrete. It often means treating a concept as if it were a physical thing.
- The report reified the company's hopes into one clear plan.
- Don't reify a rough estimate as a final fact.
Adinary Nuance
Reify is more formal than "make real" or "turn into reality." It is often used when an idea is treated like a real object or fact. Writers choose it when they want a precise academic word, especially in analysis or philosophy. It is not the same as simply "realize" something in everyday speech.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- vật thể hóa
- Spanish
- cosificar
- Chinese
- 物化
- Japanese
- 実体化する
- Korean
- 구체화하다
Etymology
Reify comes from Latin res, meaning "thing." It entered English in the 20th century, first in philosophy and later in academic writing.
Common phrases
reify an ideareify a conceptreify social relations
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is reify formal or informal?
- It is formal and mostly used in academic or analytical writing.
- What's the difference between reify and realize?
- Reify means to treat an idea like a real thing. Realize means to understand or make something happen.
- Can I use reify in everyday conversation?
- You can, but it may sound too academic in casual speech.