To make something take on the customs, clothes, food, business methods or ideas typical of Western Europe and North America; or, without an object, to become like that. "The government tried to westernize the army" — they rebuilt it on a European model. "The city has westernized fast" — it has come to look and work more like a Western city. The past participle *westernized* is very common as a describing word: a westernized diet, a westernized version of a temple ceremony. This is a formal, written word, used in history, business writing and journalism far more than in speech. Feel the loading: depending on who is speaking, it can be plain description, or quiet criticism, or even praise. A writer who says a recipe has been "westernized" is usually saying it has been made blander and less authentic; a business report saying a company "westernized its management" usually means it is now more efficient by international standards. Same word, opposite feelings — the speaker decides. Remember too that "western" is about culture, not geography. American spelling is *-ize*; British writing often uses *-ise* (westernise). Capitalisation varies: both *westernize* and *Westernize* are seen, and neither will be marked wrong.