verb
monetize
MON-uh-tyze
Monetize (verb) means to earn money from something that does not already make money, such as a website, an audience or a piece of content. Example: “He built the channel for three years before trying to monetize it.”
verb
1
To earn money from something that does not already make money, such as a website, an audience or a piece of content.
"He built the channel for three years before trying to monetize it."
"The app is free, and they monetize through subscriptions rather than ads."
2
formal In finance, to convert an asset into cash, or for a central bank to fund government debt by creating money.
"The company monetized its patent portfolio in a single licensing deal."
"Critics accused the central bank of monetizing the deficit."
How to use monetize
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo turn something into a source of money.
When to use it
Business and online-creator jargon in sense 1; technical in finance. Spelled monetise in British English.
Memory tip
Americans write monetize; British and Australian writers usually write monetise. Both are correct in their own varieties.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
monetise
commodify
capitalise on
Common pairings
monetize a channel
monetize traffic
monetize an audience
hard to monetize
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He built the channel for three years before trying to _____ it.
Etymology
From Latin moneta 'mint, coinage', via French monétiser.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for monetize
See all rhymes for monetize →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between monetize and commercialise?
Monetize focuses narrowly on extracting revenue from something you already have, such as an existing audience or dataset. Commercialise is broader — it means turning an idea, invention or activity into a business proposition, often including product development and marketing.
What does it mean for a YouTube channel to be monetized?
It means the channel has been approved to run ads and use other paid features, so the creator receives a share of the revenue their videos generate. Channels must meet subscriber and watch-time thresholds before this is switched on.
What is the meaning of monetize?
"monetize" (verb) means to earn money from something that does not already make money, such as a website, an audience or a piece of content.
What is another word for monetize?
Other words for "monetize" include commercialise, cash in on, profit from, monetise.
