privatize

[ prahy-vuh-tahyz ]

verb (used with object),pri·va·tized, pri·va·tiz·ing.
  1. to transfer from public or government control or ownership to private enterprise: a campaign promise to privatize some of the public lands.

  2. to make exclusive; delimit or appropriate: special-interest groups attempting to privatize social issues.

Origin of privatize

1
First recorded in 1945–50; private + -ize
  • Also especially British, pri·va·tise .

Other words from privatize

  • pri·va·ti·za·tion, noun

Words Nearby privatize

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

How to use privatize in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for privatize

privatize

privatise

/ (ˈpraɪvɪˌtaɪz) /


verb
  1. (tr) to transfer (the production of goods or services) from the public sector of an economy into private ownership and operation

Derived forms of privatize

  • privatization or privatisation, noun

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