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✨ To disappear 💾 To digitize
to dematerialize

to dematerialize

8.1
Change paper certificates into electronic records for keeping and trading
  • verb
  • /ˌdiːˈmætəˌraɪz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : desmaterializar
  • Many organizations are moving to dematerialize their records for better efficiency and security.

Examples

  • When that afternoon the latest candidate for a base note had fallen short of expectations, they had sat down over a flagon of wine and negotiated an agreement to dematerialize.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • The company decided to dematerialize its stocks to streamline trading and reduce paperwork.

  • I have no idea which of these stories describes our present situation more precisely, any more than I can tell you whether Amazon will conquer Borders or whether all our books will dematerialize into electronic files over the next few years.

    Academic text (2001)

  • Investors prefer to dematerialize their certificates in order to trade electronically.

Synonyms

to digitize
vsto dematerialize
  • Specialized
24 3.9

To change information, images, or records into a form a computer can read

is specific to converting physical financial records for electronic holding and transfer
to digitalize
vsto dematerialize
  • Specialized
1 5.1

Change physical things like documents or photos into a digital form a computer can use

is specific to converting physical financial records for electronic holding and transfer

How Electronic

to dematerialize
  • Specialized
8.1
to digitize
  • Specialized
24 3.9
to scan
258 3.2

Surface Forms

dematerialize infinitive
dematerialized past
dematerialized past participle
dematerializing present participle
dematerializes third person singular

Morphology

dematerialize = materialize (semi-transparent) = de + material + ize

The prefix suggests removing physical form, but the precise meaning of converting documents into electronic records is a specialized institutional use.

Etymology

Dematerialize comes from de- 'remove' and material 'physical stuff', so think of making the paper part go away. That's why, in finance, to dematerialize means to remove paper certificates and keep them in electronic form.