criminalize

verb

crim·​i·​nal·​ize ˈkri-mə-nə-ˌlīz 

ˈkrim-nə-ˌlīz

criminalized; criminalizing

transitive verb

: to make illegal

also : to turn into a criminal or treat as criminal

criminalization

ˌkri-mə-nə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

ˌkrim-nə-lə-ˈzā-

noun

Synonyms of criminalize

• outlaw
• ban

Examples of criminalize in a Sentence

a law that criminalized alcohol

wanted to criminalize an activity that the mountaineers had been engaging in for generations

Recent Examples on the Web

The United Kingdom plans to bring into force a law that criminalizes the creation of non-consensual sexualized images, including through Grok, the chatbot within Elon Musk’s X application, following the app’s deepfake scandal of the last few weeks. —Rebecca Schneid, Time, 13 Jan. 2026

The new law criminalizes lotteries for voter registration or participation. —Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 13 Jan. 2026

In 2024, South Korea criminalized watching or producing deepfake pornography. —Angelica Ang, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026

In England at least, it’s now criminalized. —Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 12 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

criminal entry 1 + -ize

First Known Use

circa 1956, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for criminalize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• decentralize
• democratize

Legal Definition

criminalize

transitive verb

crim·​i·​nal·​ize ˈkri-mə-nə-ˌlīz 

criminalized; criminalizing

: to make criminal : outlaw

the statute criminalizing the use of contraceptives

—R. H. Bork

compare illegalize

criminalization

ˌkri-mə-nə-lə-ˈzā-shən, -ˌlī- 

noun