denuclearize

American  

[dee-noo-klee-uh-rahyz, -nyoo-, -kyuh-luh-] / diˈnu kli əˌraɪz, -ˈnju-, -kjə lə- /

especially British, denuclearise

verb (used with object)

denuclearized, denuclearizing

1. to remove nuclear weapons from (a country, region, etc.).

2. to prohibit the deployment or construction of nuclear weapons in (a country, region, etc.).

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denuclearize British  

/ dɪˈnjuːklɪəˌraɪz /

verb

1. (tr) to deprive (a country, state, etc) of nuclear weapons

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Pronunciation

See nuclear.

Other Word Forms

• denuclearization
  noun

Etymology

Origin of denuclearize

First recorded in 1955–60; de- + nuclear + -ize

Example Sentences

The White House said last month that Xi and Trump "confirmed their shared goal to denuclearize North Korea" during their summit in Beijing.

From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026

In past years, the U.S. and South Korea had cancelled or scaled back some of their regular drills as part of diplomatic efforts to denuclearize North Korea and out of concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 12, 2023

The solution proposed by the United States and supported by Russia was to denuclearize those states that had split from the former Soviet Union but still possessed nuclear weapons.

From Textbooks • Dec. 14, 2022

But since taking office, Mr. Yoon has also dangled economic incentives for the North to denuclearize.

From New York Times • Aug. 17, 2022

Moon, who has been active in trying to engage with North Korea throughout his presidency, has argued that such a declaration would encourage North Korea to give up to denuclearize.

From Reuters • Sep. 21, 2021