Galvanize

Welcome to the Voice of America’s New Words.

In June, U.S. president Donald Trump said the government will expand legal action against undocumented immigrants in the country.

Galvanize

The president said unless lawmakers pass better asylum laws, illegal immigrants will be arrested.

This caused the immigrant rights groups to galvanize in support of immigrants.

It’s something that we, as immigrants, feel in our bones and in our blood.

This use of the verb galvanize means to exsite people toward support of an idea or action.

Galvanize also means to cover metal with the chemical zinc in order to protect it.