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:
Finally, in 1952, when Wilde is 97, Prime Minister Winston Churchill visits to inform him that a cross-party alliance in Parliament intends to bring in a bill to decriminalize homosexuality.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
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
Last week, the central state of Aguascalientes became the 12th state to decriminalize the procedure.
From Washington Times ● Sep. 6, 2023
Within days, Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio declared that his government would decriminalize abortion “at a time when sexual and reproductive health rights for women are being either overturned or threatened.”
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 1, 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
Venezuela decriminalized the use of the dollar and lifted controls to combat a hyperinflationary cycle that lasted from 2017 to 2022.
From Barron's ● Jan. 22, 2026
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
Homosexuality was decriminalized in Belarus in 1994, but the LGBTQ+ community faces heavy stigma and high suicide rates, advocates say.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 15, 2024
Schiff voted for bills that would have decriminalized marijuana nationally and ended the federal sentencing disparity between drug offenses involving crack and powder cocaine.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 9, 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
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
Ireland passed a law decriminalizing homosexual acts in 1993.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 26, 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.
