What does "posterize" mean?
To inadvertently or intentionally reduce the number of colours in (a photograph or other image), changing a continuous gradation of tone to several regions of fewer tones with abrupt changes from one tone to another.
Posterize
/ˈpəʊstəɹaɪz/ verb, slang
verb, slang ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: To inadvertently or intentionally reduce the number of colours in (a photograph or other image), changing a continuous gradation of tone to several regions of fewer tones with abrupt changes from one tone to another.
- Grammar: posterize is listed as verb, slang.
- Usage evidence: Probably, [Sam] Perkins just wanted to get out of the way and not be "posterized," which is what happens when the dunkee is humiliated by the dunker. But [Michael] Jordan thought Perkins, his college teammate, would try to block the dunk, so he switched the ball from his right to his left hand at chest level. […] Jordan extended his left hand, and flipped the ball off glass, with reverse spin, into the basket. […] Only one other such spectacular shot in a game of consequence comes to mind, the time in the 1980 NBA finals when Julius Erving wrapped himself around the basket, going out of bounds while in the air in the process, and posterized Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Mark Landsberger with a reverse one-hand flip off the glass.
How to use "posterize"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "posterize" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "posterize" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "posterize" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "posterize" is acting as verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Verb
- 1 To inadvertently or intentionally reduce the number of colours in (a photograph or other image), changing a continuous gradation of tone to several regions of fewer tones with abrupt changes from one tone to another. transitive
- 2 To score a slam dunk in basketball against (one or more opposing players) by leaping over them; also (by extension, sports, slang), to score a goal, a point, etc., in some other sport against (one or more opposing players) in a spectacular manner. Canada, US, slang, transitive
"Probably, [Sam] Perkins just wanted to get out of the way and not be "posterized," which is what happens when the dunkee is humiliated by the dunker. But [Michael] Jordan thought Perkins, his college teammate, would try to block the dunk, so he switched the ball from his right to his left hand at chest level. […] Jordan extended his left hand, and flipped the ball off glass, with reverse spin, into the basket. […] Only one other such spectacular shot in a game of consequence comes to mind, the time in the 1980 NBA finals when Julius Erving wrapped himself around the basket, going out of bounds while in the air in the process, and posterized Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Mark Landsberger with a reverse one-hand flip off the glass."
- 3 To inadvertently or intentionally reduce the number of colours in a photograph or other image, changing a continuous gradation of tone to several regions of fewer tones with abrupt changes from one tone to another. intransitive
Example
"Probably, [Sam] Perkins just wanted to get out of the way and not be "posterized," which is what happens when the dunkee is humiliated by the dunker. But [Michael] Jordan thought Perkins, his college teammate, would try to block the dunk, so he switched the ball from his right to his left hand at chest level. […] Jordan extended his left hand, and flipped the ball off glass, with reverse spin, into the basket. […] Only one other such spectacular shot in a game of consequence comes to mind, the time in the 1980 NBA finals when Julius Erving wrapped himself around the basket, going out of bounds while in the air in the process, and posterized Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Mark Landsberger with a reverse one-hand flip off the glass."
Common questions
How do you use "posterize" in a sentence?
Probably, [Sam] Perkins just wanted to get out of the way and not be "posterized," which is what happens when the dunkee is humiliated by the dunker. But [Michael] Jordan thought Perkins, his college teammate, would try to block the dunk, so he switched the ball from his right to his left hand at chest level. […] Jordan extended his left hand, and flipped the ball off glass, with reverse spin, into the basket. […] Only one other such spectacular shot in a game of consequence comes to mind, the time in the 1980 NBA finals when Julius Erving wrapped himself around the basket, going out of bounds while in the air in the process, and posterized Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Mark Landsberger with a reverse one-hand flip off the glass.
How do you pronounce "posterize"?
Pronounced /ˈpəʊstəɹaɪz/.
Etymology
From poster + -ize (suffix forming verbs denoting something which is done or made). Sense 1.1 (“to reduce the number of colours”) refers to the original use of the process to produce posters. Sense 1.2 (“to score a slam dunk in basketball against (one or more opposing players) by leaping over them”) refers to the action being so spectacular as to warrant a photograph of it being printed on a poster.