Dictionary.com

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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Also especially British, crim·i·nal·ise .

Origin of criminalize

First recorded in 1955–60; criminal + -ize

OTHER WORDS FROM criminalize

crim·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.

Words nearby criminalize

criminal court, Criminal Investigation Department, criminalist, criminalistics, criminality, criminalize, criminal justice, criminal law, criminal lawyer, criminal psychology, Criminal Records Bureau
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences 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 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