verb

democratize

dih-MAH-kruh-tyze/dɪˈmɑːkrətaɪz/

To open participation or control to a wider public.

The library staff democratize access to technology by opening the tablet cabinet to visitors.

Public library staff opens a cabinet of tablets so several ordinary visitors can use them, removal of locked access barrier and shared availability clear, no screen text.

Etymology

demoGreekcommon people

+cratGreekrule, strength

+izeFrenchmake, render

The roots evoke government by the people, but democratize also meant making something popular or common. In this sense, making something democratic means opening access to more people rather than keeping it restricted.

In context

Vruksh Foundation59:58

one of the projects we're working on is being able to democratize the mun arena and allow you know many more stem kids with interest in stem to be able to participate

Misfits Mega Pitch event | Day 03

More examples

Free online courses democratize access to higher education.
The cooperative democratized control by giving every worker a vote.
The city is democratizing budget decisions by inviting residents to propose projects.

Forms

democratize · democratizes · democratized · democratizing

democracy noun — government controlled by the people

democratization noun — the process of broadening public participation or control

Similar words

open: Emphasizes removing barriers rather than giving people shared control.
empower: Emphasizes giving people authority rather than broadening access.