decriminalize
Americanverb (used with object)
-
decriminalizes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
decriminalized,
past participle, past
-
decriminalizing
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
decriminalizesimple
-
decriminalizessimple
-
have decriminalizedperfect
-
has decriminalizedperfect
-
am decriminalizingprogressive
-
are decriminalizingprogressive
-
is decriminalizingprogressive
-
have been decriminalizingperfect progressive
-
has been decriminalizingperfect progressive
Past
-
decriminalizedsimple
-
had decriminalizedperfect
-
was decriminalizingprogressive
-
were decriminalizingprogressive
-
had been decriminalizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of decriminalize
An Americanism dating back to 1965–70; de- + criminal + -ize
Explanation
When you take something that's against the law and make it legal, you decriminalize it. If your state rescinds a law requiring motorcycle helmets, they decriminalize riding without a helmet (which still doesn't mean it's a good idea). As social norms change, lawmakers and voters may choose to decriminalize activities or behaviors that were once illegal. If the legislature of your states decides that a casino will bring in needed revenue, they might decriminalize gambling. The word decriminalize can also be used when things are still technically against the law, but those laws are no longer enforced: "There's still a leash law, but the city decided to decriminalize off-leash dogs on the beach."
Vocabulary lists containing decriminalize
crim, crimin (judgement; accusation)
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crim, crimin
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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.
See Examples For:
In November, Paxton also sued Dallas after its residents overwhelmingly voted to decriminalize possession.
From Slate ● May 28, 2025
Then in 2021, a movement to decriminalize cruising began to take root in National City.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 14, 2023
“We give thanks for the prime minister … his government bravely stand up with courage to decriminalize, and to even give sacramental rights to the Rastafari community.”
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 2, 2023
For years, they have shown up in front of local lawmakers to demand that they decriminalize street vending.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 5, 2023
The bill would decriminalize vending without a license, make licenses cheaper and waive past unpaid licensing fees.
From Washington Times ● Mar. 8, 2023
Additionally, the bill effectively decriminalizes street vending without a license.
From Washington Times ● Apr. 5, 2023
Legal jaywalking: California’s “Freedom to Walk” act, which decriminalizes jaywalking, will go into effect on Jan 1.
From New York Times ● Oct. 27, 2022
Pedestrians take note: A new law decriminalizes safe jaywalking in California.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2022
Exiled activist Baro said even if Kenya’s High Court decriminalizes same-sex relations he still would not feel safe to return home, as things don’t change overnight.
From Seattle Times ● May 23, 2019
Last week, Brown signed a bill authored by Lara into law that decriminalizes sidewalk vending, a business popular with many immigrants.
From Fox News ● Sep. 28, 2018
It was only a few weeks before his death in August 1967 that homosexuality was partially decriminalized in England.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
Elsewhere in Latin America, courts in Colombia and Ecuador have decriminalized euthanasia without passing laws to legalize the practice, while Cuba allows for terminal patients to refuse being kept alive artificially.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2025
Homosexual acts between adult men were decriminalized in New South Wales in 1984, making it the fifth state to do so.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 5, 2024
China has long had a conservative culture that stigmatizes homosexuality, though it was decriminalized in 1997.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 30, 2024
Indian cinema has seen a wave of queer-themed commercial movies since gay sex was decriminalized in a Supreme Court decision in 2018.
From New York Times ● Mar. 8, 2024
In New York, two opposing bills—one decriminalizing prostitution, which was supported by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani when he was still an assemblymember, and the other enacting the Nordic model—are still under consideration.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026
Rodriguez stabilized the situation by introducing greater fiscal discipline, halting the printing of money, relaxing exchange controls and decriminalizing the use of the dollar, which has become Venezuela's de facto currency.
From Barron's ● Mar. 6, 2026
But advocates of decriminalizing jaywalking are skeptical that jaywalking laws keep people safer.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 4, 2024
Dr. Anna Lembke, a professor at Stanford who raised concerns years ago over the rise in opioid prescriptions, shares those concerns about decriminalizing psychedelics.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2023
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas recently dropped opposition to decriminalizing the strips, citing a “better understanding” of how they prevent opioid deaths.
From Washington Times ● Jun. 8, 2023
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
