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criminalize

crim·i·nal·ize
C c

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [krim-uh-nl-ahyz]
    • /ˈkrɪm ə nlˌaɪz/
    • /ˈkrɪm.ɪ.nə.laɪz/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [krim-uh-nl-ahyz]
    • /ˈkrɪm ə nlˌaɪz/

Definitions of criminalize word

  • verb criminalize If a government criminalizes an action or person, it officially declares that the action or the person's behaviour is illegal. 3
  • verb criminalize to make (an action or activity) criminal 3
  • verb criminalize to treat (a person) as a criminal 3
  • verb transitive criminalize to make criminal 3
  • verb with object criminalize to make punishable as a crime: To reduce the graffiti on subway cars, he wants to criminalize the selling of spray paint to minors. 1
  • verb with object criminalize to make a criminal of: Drug use has criminalized him. 1

Information block about the term

Origin of criminalize

First appearance:

before 1955
One of the 4% newest English words
First recorded in 1955-60; criminal + -ize

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Criminalize

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

criminalize popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 51% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
According to our data about 66% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.

criminalize usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for criminalize

verb criminalize

  • outlaw — a lawless person or habitual criminal, especially one who is a fugitive from the law.
  • ban — To ban something means to state officially that it must not be done, shown, or used.
  • forbid — to command (a person) not to do something, have something, etc., or not to enter some place: to forbid him entry to the house.
  • proscribe — to denounce or condemn (a thing) as dangerous or harmful; prohibit.
  • interdict — Civil Law. any prohibitory act or decree of a court or an administrative officer.

Antonyms for criminalize

verb criminalize

  • legalize — to make legal; authorize.
  • rehabilitate — to restore to a condition of good health, ability to work, or the like.

See also

Matching words

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