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privatize

[ prahy-vuh-tahyz ]
/ ˈpraɪ vəˌtaɪz /

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

Words nearby privatize

private viewdata, privation, privatism, privative, privatization issue, privatize, privet, privet hawk, privilege, privileged, privileged altar
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for privatize

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