1. turning into a fossil through natural processes over long periods of time
Usage: present participle of fossilize
2. becoming rigid, outdated, or resistant to change
Usage: figurative use

Examples

• The dinosaur bones are fossilizing in the sedimentary rock layers.
• Scientists study the process of organic matter fossilizing over millions of years.
• The ancient tree trunk is slowly fossilizing in the mineral-rich soil.
• The company’s management style is fossilizing and needs modernization.
• Traditional practices risk fossilizing if they don’t adapt to new circumstances.
• The old bureaucratic system is fossilizing and becoming inefficient.