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decriminalize

[dee-krim-uh-nl-ahyz]
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verb (used with object), de·crim·i·nal·ized, de·crim·i·nal·iz·ing.
  1. to eliminate criminal penalties for or remove legal restrictions against: to decriminalize marijuana.
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Also especially British, de·crim·i·nal·ise.

Origin of decriminalize

An Americanism dating back to 1965–70; de- + criminal + -ize
Related formsde·crim·i·nal·i·za·tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

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British Dictionary definitions for decriminalize

decriminalize

decriminalise

verb
  1. (tr) to remove (an action) from the legal category of criminal offenceto decriminalize the possession of marijuana
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Derived Formsdecriminalization or decriminalisation, 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

Word Origin and History for decriminalize

v.

1963, "to reform a criminal," back-formation from decriminalization. Meaning "to make legal something that formerly had been illegal" was in use by 1970 (there are isolated instances back to 1867). Related: Decriminalized; decriminalizing.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper