criminalize

[ krim-uh-nl-ahyz ]

verb (used with object),crim·i·nal·ized, crim·i·nal·iz·ing.
  1. to make punishable as a crime: To reduce the graffiti on subway cars, he wants to criminalize the selling of spray paint to minors.

  2. to make a criminal of: Drug use has criminalized him.

Origin of criminalize

1
First recorded in 1955–60; criminal + -ize
  • Also especially British, crim·i·nal·ise .

Other words from criminalize

  • crim·i·nal·i·za·tion, noun
  • re·crim·i·nal·i·za·tion, noun
  • re·crim·i·nal·ize, verb (used with object), re·crim·i·nal·ized, re·crim·i·nal·iz·ing.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use criminalize in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for criminalize

criminalize

criminalise

/ (ˈkrɪmɪnəˌlaɪz) /


verb(tr)
  1. to make (an action or activity) criminal

  2. to treat (a person) as a criminal

Derived forms of criminalize

  • criminalization or criminalisation, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012