democratizes

Democratizes is a verb meaning to make something more democratic or accessible to a broader segment of people, typically by distributing power, rights, or decision‑making more widely. It can refer to political processes, institutions, or systems, as well as to technologies, information, or resources.

Etymology: derived from democracy plus the suffix -ize; from Greek demos (people) and kratos (power). In modern English it is commonly spelled democratize in American English and democratise in British English.

In political science, democratization describes reforms that expand suffrage, decentralize authority, or increase citizen participation. In technology or business, it describes making tools, data, or processes accessible to a broader audience, reducing gatekeeping and enabling user contribution.

Examples include open government data initiatives, open‑source software, participatory budgeting, and broader access to education or healthcare information.

The third-person singular present is "democratizes": The policy democratizes access. The noun is democratization; the adjective democratized or democratizing.

Critics argue democratization can be undermined by unequal access, misinformation, or superficial participation. Related concepts include democratization, decentralization, liberalization, and empowerment.