mercerization

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

mer•cer•ize  (mûr′sə rīz′), v.t., -ized, -iz•ing. 

1. Textiles to treat (cotton yarns or fabric) with caustic alkali under tension, in order to increase strength, luster, and affinity for dye.

Also,[esp. Brit.,] mer′cer•ise′. 

• 1855–60; named after John Mercer (1791–1866), English calico printer, the patentee (1850) of the process; see -ize

mer′cer•i•za′tion, n. 
mer′cer•iz′er, n.