municipalize

especially British, mu·nic·i·pal·ise

[myoo-nis-uh-puh-lahyz]

verb (used with object)

municipalized, municipalizing 

1. to make a municipality of.

2. to bring under municipal ownership or control.

municipalize

/ mjuːˈnɪsɪpəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. to bring under municipal ownership or control

2. to make a municipality of

Other Word Forms

• municipalization noun
• unmunicipalized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of municipalize¹

First recorded in 1875–80; municipal + -ize

Example Sentences

"They wield political power, they fund a lot of nonprofits. The kind of power that they have is fairly unmatched in the state. And so a movement to municipalize has a big heavy barrier up against it."

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In 1988, Gonzalez was voted out of office after he tried and failed to municipalize South Gate’s electricity by taking over a Southern California Edison plant.

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Some politicians and activists have called to municipalize the perpetually negligent utility company, including San Francisco Mayor London Breed.

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Like I hope we will municipalize PG&E for example.

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Any takeover attempt would face pushback from PG&E’s union workers, who “firmly and without hesitation oppose any efforts to municipalize any part of PG&E’s service territory, including San Francisco,” said Tom Dalzell, business manager for the local unit that represents 12,000 employees.

Read more on Los Angeles Times