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definitions

criminalize

[ krim-uh-nl-ahyz ]
/ ˈkrɪm ə nlˌaɪz /
|

verb (used with object), crim·i·nal·ized, crim·i·nal·iz·ing.

to make punishable as a crime: To reduce the graffiti on subway cars, he wants to criminalize the selling of spray paint to minors.
to make a criminal of: Drug use has criminalized him.

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Nearby words

  1. criminal records bureau,
  2. criminal syndicalism,
  3. criminalist,
  4. criminalistics,
  5. criminality,
  6. criminally,
  7. criminate,
  8. criminative,
  9. crimini,
  10. criminogenic
Also especially British, crim·i·nal·ise.

Origin of criminalize

First recorded in 1955–60; criminal + -ize
Related formscrim·i·nal·i·za·tion, nounre·crim·i·nal·i·za·tion, nounre·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. 2019

Examples from the Web for criminalize

British Dictionary definitions for criminalize

criminalize

criminalise

/ (ˈkrɪmɪnəˌlaɪz) /

verb (tr)

to make (an action or activity) criminal
to treat (a person) as a criminal
Derived Formscriminalization 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