British English and American English Spellings
 - Click on Description for an alphabetical listing.

British-ise vs. American-ize

accessorise accessorize
acclimatise acclimatize
actualise, actualisation actualize, actualization
Africanise Africanize
aggrandise aggrandize
aggrandisement aggrandizement
agonise agonize
alkalinise alkalize
alkalise alkalize
allegorise allegorize
alphabetise, alphabetisation alphabetize, alphabetization
aluminise aluminize
Americanise, Americanisation Americanize, Americanization
amortise, amortisation amortize, amortization
analogise analogize
analyse analyze
Anglicise Anglicize
annualise annualize
antagonise antagonize
anthologise anthologize
aphorise aphorize
apologise apologize
appetiser appetizer
aromatise aromatize
atomise, atomiser atomize, atomizer
attitudinise attitudinize
authorise, authorisation authorize, authorization
bastardise, bastardisation bastardize, bastardization
bestialise bestialize
breathaliser breathalyzer
brutalise brutalize
bureaucratise, bureaucratisation bureaucratize, bureaucratization
burglarise burglarize
cannibalise, cannibalisation cannibalize, cannibalization
canonise, canonisation canonize, canonization
centralise, centralisation centralize, centralization
capitalise, capitalisation capitalize, capitalization
caramelise caramelize
carbonise, carbonisation carbonize, carbonization
catalyse catalyze
categorise, categorisation categorize, categorization
cauterise, cauterisation cauterize, cauterization
characterise, characterize, characterization
Christianise  Christianize 
circularise circularize
civilise, civilisation civilize, civilization
cognisance, cognisant cognizance, cognizant
collectivise collectivize
colonise, colonisation colonize, colonization
commercialise commercialisation commercialize commercialization
communise communize
compartmentalise, compartmentalisation compartmentalize, compartmentalization
computerise, computerisation computerize, computerization
conceptualise, conceptualisation conceptualize, conceptualization
conventionalise, conventionalisation conventionalize conventionalization
criticise criticize
crystallise crystallisation crystallize, crystallization
decentralise, decentralise decentralize, decentralization
decolourise decolorize
decriminalise, decriminalisation decriminalize decriminalization
dehumanise dehumanisation dehumanize dehumanization
demagnetise, demagnetisation demagnetize, demagnetization
dematerialise  dematerialize 
demilitarised, demilitarisation demilitarized, demilitarization
demineralisation demineralization
demobilise, demobilisation demobilize, demobilization
democratise, democratisation democratize, democratization
demonise demonize
demoralise, demoralisation demoralize, demoralization
demythologise, demythologisation demythologize demythologization
denationalise, denationalisation denationalize, denationalization
deodorise deodorize
deoxidise, deoxidisation deoxidize, deoxidization
departmentalise, departmentalisation departmentalize, departmentalization
depersonalise, depersonalisation depersonalize, depersonalization
depolarise, depolarisation depolarize, depolarization
depressurise, depressurisation depressurize, depressurization
deputise deputize 
desalinise, desalinisation desalinize, desalinization
desensitise, desensitisation desensitize, desensitization
desexualise desexualize
destabilise, destabilisation destabilize, destabilization
devitalise devitalize
dialogise dialogize
digitalise, digitalisation digitalization (Note: American English does not recognize digitalize—just digitize.)
digitise, digitisation digitize, digitization
disorganise, disorganisation disorganize, disorganization
dramatise, dramatisation dramatize, dramatization
economise economize
editorialise editorialize
effeminise effeminize
electrolyse electrolyze
elegise elegize
empathise empathize
emphasise emphasize
energise energize
epitomise g epitomize
equalise, equalisation equalize, equalization
eternalise eternalize
etymologise etymologize
eulogise eulogize
evangelise, evangelisation evangelize, evangelization
extemporise, extemporisation extemporize, extemporization
externalise, externalisation externalization, externalization
familiarise, familiarisation familiarize, familiarization
fanaticise fanaticize
fantasise fantasize
federalise, federalisation federalize, federalization
feminise, feminisation feminize, feminization
fertilise, fertiliser, fertilisation fertilize, fertilizer, fertilization
fictionalise fictionalize
finalise, finalisation finalize, finalization
fluidise, fluidisation fluidize, fluidization
focalise, focalisation focalize, focalization
formalise, formalisation formalize, formalization,
formularise, formularisation formularize, formularization
fossilise, fossilisation fossilize, fossilization
fractionalise, fractionalisation fractionalize, fractionalization
fraternise, fraternisation fraternize, fraternization
galvanise, galvanisation galvanize, galvanization
gelatinise gelatinize
generalise, generalisation generalize, generalization
glamourise, glamourisation glamorize, glamorization
globalise, globalisation globalize, globalization
gormandise gormandize
gourmandise gourmandize
ghettoise ghettoize
idealise, idealisation idealize, idealization
idolise, idolisation idolize, idolization
immobilise, immobilisation immobilize, immobilization
immortalise immortalize
immunise, immunisation immunize, immunization
individualise, individualisation individualize, individualization
industrialise, industrialisation industrialize, industrialization
initialise, initialisation initialize, initialization
institutionalise, institutionalisation institutionalize, institutionalization
intellectualise intellectualize
internalise, internalisation internalize, internalization
internationalise, internationalisation internationalize, internationalization
iodise iodize 
ionise, ionisation ionize, ionization
italicise, italicisation italicize, italicization
itemise, itemisation itemize, itemization
legalise, legalisation legalize, legalization
legitimise, legitimisation legitimize, legitimization
liberalise, liberalisation liberalize, liberalization
lionise lionize
lobotomise lobotomize
localise, localisation localize, localization
macadamise macadamize
magnetise, magnetisation magnetize, magnetization
materialise, materialisation materialize, materialization
maximise, maximisation maximize, maximization
mechanise, mechanisation mechanize, mechanization
memorialise memorialize
memorise, memorisation memorize, memorization
mercerise, mercerisation mercerize, mercerization
mesmerise mesmerize
metabolise metabolize
metastasise metastasize
methodise methodize
militarise militarize
mineralise mineralize
miniaturise, miniaturisation miniaturize, miniaturization
minimise, minimisation, minimize, minimization, minimizing
modernise, modernisation modernize, modernization
modularise modularize
moisturise, moisturiser moisturize, moisturizer
mobilise, mobilisation mobilize, mobilization
mongrelise mongrelize
monopolise, monopolisation monopolize, monopolization
moralise, moralisation moralize, moralization
motorise motorize

 

narcotise narcotize
nationalise, nationalisation nationalize, nationalization
naturalise, naturalisation naturalize, naturalization
neutralise, neutralisation neutraliser neutralize, neutralization neutralizer
normalise, normalisation normalize, normalization
notarise notarize
novelise novelize
optimise, optimisation optimize, optimization
organise, organiser, organisation organisational organisationally organize, organizer, organization, organizational, organizationally
overcapitalise, overcapitalisation overcapitalize, overcapitalization
overemphasise overemphasize
overspecialise, overspecialisation overspecialize, overspecialization
oxidise, oxidisation oxidize, oxidization
ostracise ostracize
palatalise palatalize
palletise palletize
panegyrise panegyrize
paralyse paralyze
parenthesise parenthesize
particularise, particularisation particularize, particularization
pasteurise, pasteurisation pasteurize, pasteurization
patronise, patronisation patronisingly patronize, patronization, patronizingly
pauperise, pauperisation pauperize, pauperization
penalise, penalisation penalize, penalization
peptise peptize
personalise, personalisation personalize, personalization
philosophise, philosophiser philosophize, philosophizer
phlebotomise phlebotomize
photosensitise photosensitize
plagiarise plagiarize
poeticise poeticize
poetise poetize
polarise, polarisation polarize, polarization
politicise, politicisation politicize, politicization
polymerise, polymerisation polymerize, polymerization
popularise, popularisation popularize, popularization
pressurise, pressurisation pressurize, pressurization
prioritise, prioritisation prioritize, prioritization
prise prize
privatise, privatisation privatize, privatization
propagandise propagandize
proselytise, proselytiser proselytize, proselytizer
psychoanalyse psychoanalysing psychoanalyze
psychoanalyzed
publicise publicize
pulverise pulverize
radicalise, radicalisation radicalize, radicalization
randomise, randomisation randomize, randomization
rationalise, rationalisation rationalize, rationalization
realise, realisable, realisation realize, realizable, realization
recognise, recognisable, recognisance recognize, recognizable, recognizance
reorganise, reorganisation reorganize, reorganization
resynchronise, resynchronisation resynchronize, resynchronization
revelled, reveller, revelling reveled, reveler, reveling
revitalise, revitalisation revitalize, revitalization
revolutionise revolutionize
rhapsodise rhapsodize
regularise, regularisation regularize, regularization
reinitialise reinitialize
ritualise ritualize
romanticise  romanticize
rubberise rubberize
sanitise sanitize
satirise satirize
scandalise scandalize
schematise, schematisation schematize, schematization
scrutinise scrutinize
sectionalise sectionalize 
secularise, secularisation secularize, secularization
sensationalise sensationalize
sensitise, sensitisation sensitize, sensitization
sentimentalise sentimentalize
serialise, serialisation serialize, serialization
sermonise, sermoniser sermonize, sermonizer
sexualise sexualize
signalise signalize
singularise singularize
slenderise slenderize
socialise, socialisation socialize, socialization
solemnise, solemnisation solemnize, solemnization
soliloquise soliloquize
specialise, specialisation specialize, specialization
spiritualise spiritualize
stabilise, stabilisation, stabiliser stabilize, stabilization. stabilizer
standardise, standardisation standardize, standardization
sterilise, sterilisation sterilize, sterilization
stigmatise stigmatize
stylise, stylisation stylize, stylization
subsidise, subsidisation subsidize, subsidization
suburbanise suburbanize
summarise summarize
symbolise, symbolisation symbolize,
sympathise, sympathiser sympathize, sympathizer
synchronise, synchronisation synchronize, synchronization
synopsise synopsize
synthesise, synthesiser synthesize, synthesizer
systematise, systematisation systematize, systematization
tantalise,  tantalisation tantalize,  tantalization
temporise, temporiser, temporisation temporize, temporizer temporization
tenderise, tenderiser tenderize, tenderizer
terrorise, terrorisation terrorize, terrorization
theologise g theologize
theorise theorize
tranquillise, tranquilliser, tranquillisation tranquilize, tranquilizer, tranquilization
traumatise traumatize
trivialise trivialize
tyrannise tyrannize
unanalysed unanalyzed
unappetising unappetizing
unauthorised unauthorized
uncivilised uncivilized
undercapitalised undercapitalized
unfertilised unfertilized
unionise, unionisation unionize, unionization
unitise unitize
universalise universalize
unorganised unorganized
unpractised unpracticed
unpublicised unpublicized
unrealised, unrealisable unrealized, unrealizable
unrecognised, unrecognisable unrecognized, unrecognizable
unspecialised unspecialized
unsubsidised unsubsidized
unutilised unutilized
urbanisation urbanization
urbanise urbanize
utilise, utilisable, utilisation utilize, utilizable, utilization
valorise, valorisation valorize, valorization
vandalise vandalize
vaporise, vaporisation vaporize, vaporization
verbalise, verbalisation verbalize, verbalization
victimise, victimisation victimize, victimization
visualise, visualisation visualize, visualization
vitalise, vitalisation vitalize, vitalization
vocalise, vocalisation vocalize, vocalization
volatilise, volatilisation volatilize, volatilization
vulcanise, vulcanisation vulcanize, vulcanization 
vulgarise, vulgarisation
 
vulgarize, vulgarization
weatherise 
weatherize
westernise 
westernize
winterise 
winterize
womanise, womaniser 
womanize, womanizer

 

More British s's vs. American z’s

 

cosy, cosier, cosiest, cosily cozy, cozier, coziest cozily
incognisant incognizant 
 

British -re vs. American -er

 

accoutre, accoutrement accouter, accouterment
accoutrement accouterment
amphitheatre amphitheater
calibre caliber
centilitre centiliter
centimetre centimeter
centre, centres, centred, centring

centreboard centrefold centrepiece

 center centers centered centering
centerboard centerfold centerpiece
decilitre deciliter
decimetre decimeter
decametre decameter
epicentre epicenter
fibre, fibreboard, fibreglass fiber, fiberboard, fiberglass
goitre goiter
kilometre kilometer
laundrette launderette
lacklustre lackluster
litre liter
lustre, lustreless luster, lusterless
manoeuvre, manoeuvrable, manoeuvrability maneuver, maneuverable, maneuverability
meagre, meagrely, meagreness meager, meagerly, meagerness
metre meter
millilitre milliliter
millimetre millimeter
mitre miter
nitre niter
outmanoeuvre outmaneuver
philtre philter (filter)
reconnoitre, reconnoitres, reconnoitred, reconnoitring reconnoiter, reconnoitered, reconnoiters, reconnoitering
sabre saber
saltpetre saltpeter
sceptre scepter
sombre, sombrely, sombreness somber, somberly, somberness
spectre, spectres specter, specters
theatre theater 
 

British -our vs. American -or

 

arbour arbor
ardour ardor
armour armor
behaviour, behavioural,

behaviourism, behaviourist

 behavior, behavioral,

behaviorism, behaviorist
belabour belabor
candour candor
clamour clamor
clangour clangor
colour, coloured, colourfast, colourful, colourize, colourless color, colored, colorfast,
colorful, colorize, colorless
demeanour demeanor s
decolourise decolorize
discolour, discoloured discolor, discolored
disfavour disfavor
dishonour , dishonourable dishonor dishonorable
endeavour endeavor
favour, favourable favor, favorable
favourite, favorite, favoritism
fervour fervor
flavour, flavouring flavourless flavor, flavoring flavorless
labour, labourers, labourite labor , laborers, laborite
malodour, malodourous malodor, malodorous
misbehaviour misbehavior
misdemeanour misdemeanor
multicolour multicolor
neighbour, neighbourhood neighbourly, neighbourliness neighbor, neighborhood
neighborly, neighborliness
odour odor
parlour parlor
rancour rancor
rigour, rigours, rigourous rigor, rigors, rigorous
rumour, rumourmonger rumor, rumormonger
saviour, saviours savior, saviors
savour, savoury savor, savory
splendour splendor
succour succor
tricolour tricolor
tumour tumor
uncoloured uncolored
unfavourable, unfavourably unfavorable, unfavorably
unflavoured unflavored
unsavoury, unsavourily unsavory, unsavorily
valour valor
vapour, vapourware vapor, vaporware
varicoloured varicolored
vigour, vigourous vigor, vigorous
watercolour watercolor

British ould, oult = American old, olt

 

mould, mouldings, mouldable, moulder, mouldy mold, moldings, moldable molder, moldy
moult molt
remould remold
smoulder smolder

Miscellaneous British ou for American u

 

rouble, roubles ruble, rubles
Doukhobor Dukhobor 
 

British ae/oe/oeu/ vs. American e or eu

 

encyclopaedia, encyclopaedic encyclopedia, encyclopedic
leukaemia leukemia
manoeuvre, manoeuvrable, manoeuvrability maneuver, maneuverable, maneuverability
mementoes mementos
oedema, oedematous edema, edematous
oesophagus, oesophagi, oesophageal esophagus, esophagi, esophageal
oestrogen, oestrous, oestrus estrogen, estrous, estrous
orthopaedic, orthopaedist orthopedic, orthopedist
outmanoeuvre outmaneuver
paediatric, paediatrician pediatric, pediatrician
paedophile, paedophilia, paedophiliac pedophile, pedophilia, pedophiliac
palaeontology, palaeontologist, paleontology, paleontologist
seborrhoea seborrhea
septicaemia septicemia
toxaemia, toxaemic toxemia, toxemic
tularaemia tularemia
uraemia uremia 
 

British final e vs. American dropping the e

 

 

Miscellaneous British American
adze adz
ageing aging
annexe annex
axe ax
blameable blamable
judgement, judgemental judgment, judgmental
kindergartener kindergartner
liveable, liveability livable, livability
lodgement lodgment
misjudgement misjudgment
neurone, neurones neuron, neurons
nurseling nursling
phoney, phoneys phony, phonies
prejudgement prejudgment
rateable, rateability, rateably ratable ratability, ratably
saleable saleability salable/saleable salability
shakeable shakable
thiamine