What does "hypostatize" mean?

To render into, or regard as, a separate and distinct substance; to construe a contextually-subjective and complex abstraction, idea, or concept as a universal object without regard to nuance or change in character.

What is a synonym for "hypostatize"?

Common synonyms include: embody, hypostatise, incarnate, materialize, solidify.

How do you pronounce "hypostatize"?

Pronounced //haɪˈpɒstətaɪz//.

Hypostatize

//haɪˈpɒstətaɪz// verb

verb ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Verb

1
To render into, or regard as, a separate and distinct substance; to construe a contextually-subjective and complex abstraction, idea, or concept as a universal object without regard to nuance or change in character. transitive
"On the other hand, there were a few who could see no objective reality in anything but individuals, and looked upon both species and genera as hypostatized universals."
2
construe as a real existence, of a conceptual entity wordnet
3
To attribute actual or personal existence to. transitive
"Progressives are wrong to hypostatize their belief in mankind's eternal advance, and to disavow anything that does not fit this preordained vision."

Synonyms

All synonyms

embody hypostatise incarnate materialize solidify

Example

More examples

"On the other hand, there were a few who could see no objective reality in anything but individuals, and looked upon both species and genera as hypostatized universals."

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ὑποστατίζω (hupostatízō, “I hypostatize”).

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.