domestication
gb/dəmˌɛstɪkˈeɪʃən/ us/dəmˌɛstɪkˈeɪʃən/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
C1
process
1
taming and breeding for human use
the process of making wild animals or plants live with people and be useful to them
Usage pattern:
the domestication of [animal/plant/species]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this with domestic meaning "within a country" (e.g., domestic flights).
Synonyms
taming (Usually focuses on making an individual animal less wild, not on long-term breeding changes.)
|
cultivation (Common for plants; emphasizes growing and caring for them rather than genetic change over generations.)
Antonyms
rewilding (Returning animals or ecosystems to a wild state rather than adapting them to human life.)
Collocations
the domestication of dogs
|the domestication of cats
|the domestication of the horse
|the domestication of crops
|early domestication
|plant domestication
|selective breeding and domestication
|the process of domestication
|domestication began
|domestication occurred
Themes
animals
|plants
|science
|history
|agriculture
Examples
- The domestication of wheat allowed early societies to settle and farm year-round.
- Researchers debate where and when the domestication of dogs first happened.
- Domestication can produce traits like smaller bodies and less fear of humans.
Learner examples
- Dog domestication happened a long time ago.
- Domestication changes animals over many generations.
Noun
C1
state
2
state of being domesticated
the condition of being no longer wild and living with people
Usage pattern:
in domestication; under domestication
Common mistake:
Learners may use this when they mean the action of making something more comfortable at home (better expressed as "domestic life" or "settling down").
Synonyms
tameness (Refers mainly to behavior (not being fearful), not the broader human-dependent condition.)
Antonyms
wildness (The condition of living independently of humans and behaving as a wild animal or plant does.)
Collocations
life in domestication
|animals in domestication
|traits of domestication
|under domestication
|survival in domestication
|adaptation to domestication
Themes
animals
|plants
|daily_life
|science
Examples
- In domestication, many animals lose the ability to survive on their own.
- Some species show similar changes in coat color during domestication.
- Wolves and dogs differ greatly in behavior because of domestication.
Learner examples
- In domestication, animals depend on humans.
Noun
formal
C1
process
3
adapting something for local use
changing something foreign so it feels familiar in a place
Usage pattern:
the domestication of [product/idea/practice] for [place/audience]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with "domestic" meaning "made in your country"; this sense is about adaptation, not origin.
Synonyms
localization (Often used in business/tech; more specific about adapting to a particular locale.)
|
adaptation (Broader and less specific about making something feel local or familiar.)
Antonyms
standardization (Keeping the same form across places rather than adapting to local norms.)
Collocations
cultural domestication
|the domestication of a brand
|the domestication of a product
|domestication for local markets
|domestication to local tastes
|rapid domestication
|domestication efforts
Themes
culture
|media
|business
|language
Examples
- The domestication of the menu included adding vegetarian options popular in the region.
- Critics argued that the film’s domestication erased the story’s cultural setting.
- Successful domestication often involves changing names, images, and references.
Learner examples
- The company changed the ad for domestication in Japan.
Noun
technical
C2
process
4
making a translation sound natural
a translation style that makes the text feel familiar
Usage pattern:
domestication in [translation/interpreting]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this refers to animals; in this context it is a translation strategy.
Synonyms
naturalization (Often means making language sound native; not always focused on cultural references.)
Antonyms
foreignization (A translation approach that preserves foreign elements to keep the original culture visible.)
Collocations
domestication in translation
|a domestication approach
|domestication versus foreignization
|heavy domestication
|cultural domestication in translation
|domestication strategy
Themes
language
|translation
|education
|media
Examples
- The translator used domestication by replacing a local holiday with a more familiar one for the target readers.
- Some scholars criticize domestication for making cultural differences invisible.
- The course compared domestication and foreignization through real translations.
Noun
legal
C2
process
5
making a foreign legal entity local
a legal process to make something foreign valid locally
Usage pattern:
domestication of [a foreign judgment/company] in [place]
Common mistake:
This does not mean "made for the home"; it refers to legal recognition in a jurisdiction.
Synonyms
recognition (More general; may not include the formal steps required by a specific legal process.)
|
registration (Often part of the process, but not always the full legal concept.)
Antonyms
nonrecognition (Refusing to treat a foreign judgment or status as valid locally.)
Collocations
domestication of a foreign judgment
|judgment domestication
|corporate domestication
|domestication in the state of
|petition for domestication
|domestication proceedings
Themes
law
|business
|government
Examples
- The creditor filed for domestication of the foreign judgment before trying to collect the debt.
- The company considered domestication to move its legal home to another state.
- Domestication can require court approval and compliance with local rules.
Grammar
Dictionary form
domestication
IPA
GB/dəmˌɛstɪkˈeɪʃən/
US/dəmˌɛstɪkˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
do - mest - ic - a - tion (5 syllables)
Stress on 4th syllable (a)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: domestication
- Plural: domestication, domestications
Word family
Forms
domestications
noun
Core family
Related words
domestically
adverb B2
Negative and opposite forms
undomesticated
adjective
Advanced or less common
domesticity
noun C1
domesticator
noun
Expressions
corporate domestication
1/kˈɔɹpɚɪt dəmˌɛstɪkˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
legal
changing a company’s legal home
a legal way for a company to move where it is registered
Examples
- The board approved corporate domestication to simplify regulatory filings.
- Corporate domestication allowed the firm to change its state of incorporation.
- They consulted counsel to see whether corporate domestication was permitted under local law.
domestication of a foreign judgment
1/dəmˌɛstɪkˈeɪʃən əv ə fˈɔɹən d͡ʒˈʌd͡ʒmənt/
fixed phrase
legal
legal recognition of foreign judgment
a legal process to enforce a foreign court decision
Examples
- They applied for domestication of a foreign judgment to enforce it in California.
- Without domestication of the foreign judgment, the local court could not order payment.
- The lawyer explained the steps required for domestication of a foreign judgment.
domestication strategy
1/dəmˌɛstɪkˈeɪʃən stɹˈætəd͡ʒi/
fixed phrase
technical
translation strategy for familiarity
a method of translating that makes the text feel local
Examples
- The translator adopted a domestication strategy to make the dialogue sound natural in English.
- A domestication strategy can make a story easier to read but less culturally specific.
- The essay defended a domestication strategy for children’s books.
domestication syndrome
1/dəmˌɛstɪkˈeɪʃən sˈɪndɹˌoʊm/
fixed phrase
technical
shared traits in domesticated animals
typical changes many domesticated animals share
Examples
- Scientists debate whether domestication syndrome has a single biological cause.
- Floppy ears are often cited as a possible sign of domestication syndrome.
- The study tested for domestication syndrome in early dog remains.