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

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."

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 notes

In 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.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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commercialise cash in on profit from

Related Words

market

Rhymes for monetize

size maize prize Belize utilize capsize realize baptize idolize optimize colonize memorize

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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.

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