criminalize

American

[krim-uh-nl-ahyz] / ˈkrɪm ə nlˌaɪz /

especially British, criminalise

verb (used with object)

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.

criminalize British

/ ˈkrɪmɪnəˌlaɪz /

verb

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

"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

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Etymology

Origin of criminalize

First recorded in 1955–60; criminal + -ize

Vocabulary lists containing criminalize

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Congress can certainly criminalize smuggling directed at our shores.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 8, 2025

Elham Jalayer, harm reduction director with the social services group Bienestar, said a fence would further criminalize the homeless and give the city an excuse to push people out of the neighborhood.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 25, 2025

It may seem that efforts to criminalize speech will be constitutionally dead on arrival.

From Slate • Dec. 9, 2024

They floated the idea that such a prosecution, if allowed to stand, would criminalize routine dealings between elected officials and constituents.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2024

“Due to undefined mitigation measures coupled with a vague enforcement provision, the bill could also criminalize common practices like using a VPN or side-loading to install a prohibited app,” EFF said.

From Salon • Apr. 2, 2023

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023