Balkanize
verb /ˈbɔːlkənaɪz/, /ˈbɒlkənaɪz/
/ˈbɔːlkənaɪz/
(British English also Balkanise)
(disapproving)Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they Balkanize | /ˈbɔːlkənaɪz/, /ˈbɒlkənaɪz/ /ˈbɔːlkənaɪz/ |
| he / she / it Balkanizes | /ˈbɔːlkənaɪzɪz/, /ˈbɒlkənaɪzɪz/ /ˈbɔːlkənaɪzɪz/ |
| past simple Balkanized | /ˈbɔːlkənaɪzd/, /ˈbɒlkənaɪzd/ /ˈbɔːlkənaɪzd/ |
| past participle Balkanized | /ˈbɔːlkənaɪzd/, /ˈbɒlkənaɪzd/ /ˈbɔːlkənaɪzd/ |
| -ing form Balkanizing | /ˈbɔːlkənaɪzɪŋ/, /ˈbɒlkənaɪzɪŋ/ /ˈbɔːlkənaɪzɪŋ/ |
- Balkanize something to divide a region into smaller regions which are aggressive or unfriendly towards each other
- (figurative) These competing political agendas are ready to balkanize public education.
Word Origin1920s: from Balkan Peninsula (where this was done in the late 19th and early 20th cent.) + -ize.