Ossify

//ˈɑ.sə.faɪ// verb

verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To transform (or cause to transform) from a softer animal substance into bone; particularly the processes of growth in humans and animals. ambitransitive

    "[…], nor do all bones of the same skeleton ossify during the samе period of time."

  2. 2
    become bony wordnet
  3. 3
    To become (or cause to become) inflexible and rigid in habits or opinions. ambitransitive, animate

    "Before long, the entire organization ossifies."

  4. 4
    cause to become hard and bony wordnet
  5. 5
    To grow (or cause to grow) formulaic and permanent. ambitransitive, inanimate

    "This accidental repartition gets repeated, develops advantages of its own, and gradually ossifies into a systematic division of labour."

Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    make rigid and set into a conventional pattern wordnet
  2. 7
    To calcify. rare

    "The cartilages become brittle, and in many instances are ossified; the ligaments are rendered harder, but are less capable of resisting extension."

Synonyms

All synonyms
hardenannealbrutalizecalcifycallouscase harden

Example

More examples

"To be overwise is to ossify; and the scruple-monger ends by standing stockstill."

Etymology

Back-formation from ossification, or modeled on French ossifier and formed from Latin os, ossis (“bone”) + -ify.

More for "ossify"

SynonymsSentencesPronunciationTranslate

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciationBrowse writing guides

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