CultureAugust 18, 2026
instrumentalize
IN-struh-men-tuh-lyze
Definition
To manipulate or use something—especially a historical event or concept—as a tool to serve a specific, often self-serving, political or ideological purpose.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'instrumentum' (a tool or implement), the verb entered English by combining the noun 'instrument' with the suffix '-ize' to indicate the act of making something into a tool.
In the news
The speaker warns against those who would instrumentalize the Holocaust to push their own agendas, highlighting the importance of using original primary sources to maintain an honest understanding of history.
An influential book of a Nazi leader’s confessions is now available in English
Read the full article ↗Jewish Telegraphic Agency