civilianize

[si-vil-yuh-nahyz]

verb (used with object), ci·vil·ian·ized, ci·vil·ian·iz·ing.

to assign to civilians or place under civilian direction or control: a decision to civilianize the teaching of history at the naval academy.

to make less military in form or character: He charged that the union movement is civilianizing the army.

Also especially British, ci·vil·ian·ise.

Origin of civilianize

First recorded in 1865–70; civilian + -ize

Related formsci·vil·ian·i·za·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for civilianize

civilianize

civilianise

verb

(tr) to change the status of (an armed force, a base, etc) from military to nonmilitary

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