privatize

[ prahy-vuh-tahyz ]

/ ˈpraɪ vəˌtaɪz /

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verb (used with object), pri·va·tized, pri·va·tiz·ing.

to transfer from public or government control or ownership to private enterprise: a campaign promise to privatize some of the public lands.

to make exclusive; delimit or appropriate: special-interest groups attempting to privatize social issues.

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Also especially British, pri·va·tise .

Origin of privatize

First recorded in 1945–50; private + -ize

OTHER WORDS FROM privatize

pri·va·ti·za·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use privatize in a sentence

They want to take control of New York City schools away from Mayor Bill de Blasio and let privatization run rampant.
Hunger Games Comes to New York State’s Public Schools|Zephyr Teachout|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And who knows, maybe one of these Republicans, confronted with evidence of their privatization enthusiasm, will commit one.
Hooray for Liberal Fear-Mongering!|Michael Tomasky|October 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If water privatization is bad for the city of Detroit and its residents, who is it good for?
The Republican Occupation of Detroit|Sally Kohn|July 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So Social Security privatization would be an acceptable platform plank.
Welcome to Showbiz Sharia Law|P. J. O’Rourke|May 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The Bush privatization failure was devastating not only to his standing as president but as head of his own party.
The Obama Political Obituaries Are Way Premature|Michael Tomasky|December 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for privatize

privatize

privatise

/ (ˈpraɪvɪˌtaɪz) /

verb

(tr) to transfer (the production of goods or services) from the public sector of an economy into private ownership and operation

Derived forms of privatize

privatization or privatisation, 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