fos ‧ sil ‧ ize BrE AmE ( also fossilise British English ) /ˈfɒsəlaɪz, ˈfɒsɪlaɪz $ ˈfɑː-/ verb
1 . [usually passive] if people, ideas, systems etc fossilize or are fossilized, they never change or develop, even when there are good reasons why they should change:
Most couples, however fossilized their relationship, have some interests in common.
2 . [intransitive and transitive] to become or form a ↑ fossil by being preserved in rock:
fossilized dinosaur bones
—fossilization /ˌfɒsəlaɪˈzeɪʃ ə n, ˌfɒsɪlaɪˈzeɪʃ ə n $ ˌfɑːsələ-/ noun [uncountable]