individualize

Individualize is a verb meaning to tailor, adapt, or distinguish something for a specific person or situation. It can mean either to treat someone as an individual with unique needs, or to make an item or service suitable for a single person rather than a generic group. In practice, the term often emphasizes customization and recognition of differences among people or cases.

Originates from the noun individual, which in turn derives from Latin indivisus or individuum, with the modern suffix -ize forming the verb “to make individual.” In common usage, individualization contrasts with standardization; it implies moving away from one-size-fits-all approaches toward attention to unique attributes and circumstances.

Applications of individualize appear across several fields. In education, individualized instruction adapts content, pace, and assessment to each learner. In medicine, individualized or personalized medicine uses genetic, phenotypic, or environmental data to guide prevention and treatment. In technology and marketing, algorithms may individualize content, recommendations, or product offerings. In research and public policy, the term can refer to addressing people as individuals with distinct needs rather than applying uniform rules to everyone.

Caveats include concerns about privacy, data protection, and equity, since excessive personalization can raise issues about data use and potential bias. Related terms include personalization, customization, and tailoring, while in psychology the related notion of individuation refers to the process of becoming a distinct, self-directed person.