Prostitution is immoralized in many countries.

[Mobin Shabani]

Hi everyone,

I once used a word in a conversation, but I am not quite sure if I used it the right way.

I said prostitution is immoralized in many countries. By immoralize I meant it is considered an immoral act or job in those countries. Is the word immoralize correct here? Is it a common word?

 

[emsr2d2]

I had to Google it because I'd never heard it until your thread. It appears to exist although almost all hits were of the AmE spelling "-ize", with "-ise" shown only as a variant. That probably explains why I'd never heard it. Given the definitions HERE, particularly definition 2, it appears to fit your context.

 

[Mobin Shabani]

I had to Google it because I'd never heard it until your thread. It appears to exist although almost all hits were of the AmE spelling "-ize", with "-ise" shown only as a variant. That probably explains why I'd never heard it. Given the definitions HERE, particularly definition 2, it appears to fit your context.

Thank you. How would you say it if you wanted to say my example sentence?

 

[jutfrank]

Use the adjective 'immoral'.

Prostitution is immoral in many countries.

The verb 'immoralise' means 'to make immoral', not 'to be immoral'.

 

[emsr2d2]

@jutfrank Definition 2 in my link above is "to decry as immoral", which seemed to fit the OP's original explanation of what they wanted to say. It does seem to be a particularly AmE usage though, as all hits are for "-ize".

@Mobin Shabani I'd say one of the following:
Prostitution is considered immoral in many countries.
Prostitution is considered an immoral way to earn a living in many countries.

 

[jutfrank]

@jutfrank Definition 2 in my link above is "to decry as immoral", which seemed to fit the OP's original explanation of what they wanted to say. It does seem to be a particularly AmE usage though, as all hits are for "-ize".

Ah, I missed that. Like you, I don't think I was aware of the verb 'immoralise' before now. In any case, it seems to have an extremely low frequency.

 

[Skrej]

As an AmE speaker, I haven't heard of the verb form. I suppose I can't argue with dictionaries that it exists, but it certainly isn't a common word.

I wouldn't recommend trying to use it, for that reason. Stick to rephrasing your sentences with the adjective form as per above suggestions.

 

[Annabel Lee]

I said prostitution is immoralized in many countries. By immoralize I meant it is considered an immoral act or job in those countries. Is the word immoralize correct here?

Perhaps the word you're looking for is stigmatized:

Prostitution is stigmatized in many countries.​

 

[PeterCW]

Ah, I missed that. Like you, I don't think I was aware of the verb 'immoralise' before now. In any case, it seems to have an extremely low frequency.

A look at the OED website suggests that the word was probably coined in 1770 and usage declined after around 1820.

 

[teechar]

the word was probably coined in 1770 and usage declined after around 1820.

I'm glad it didn't become immortalized!