decriminalize
verb (used with object)
to eliminate criminal penalties for or remove legal restrictions against.
has decriminalized
-
present perfectof decriminalize (3rd person singular).present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
In the past three years, the council has decriminalized many acts, eliminated bail and reduced the size of the police force to 3,400, the smallest in 50 years.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 31, 2023
In just a few years, the Supreme Court has decriminalized gay sex, ruled in favor of education quotas and ordered that transgender Indians be given “due representation in public services.”
From New York Times ● Sep. 10, 2019
Three weeks after legalizing gay sex, India’s Supreme Court has decriminalized adultery.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2018
