1. the expression of thoughts, feelings, and fantasies in words. Verbalization is a common feature of most forms of psychotherapy. Apart from the general communication that occurs between therapist and client as part of the psychotherapeutic process, a particularly striking form of verbalization occurs in the use of free association.

2. in psychiatry, a symptom involving excessive or uncontrolled speech, as in circumstantiality or pressured speech. —verbalize vb.