criminalize

verb crim·i·nal·ize \ ˈkri-mə-nə-ˌlīz , ˈkrim-nə-ˌlīz \

Updated on: 12 Dec 2017

Definition of criminalize

criminalized; criminalizing

transitive verb

: to make illegal; also : to turn into a criminal or treat as criminal

—

criminalization

play \ˌkri-mə-nə-lə-ˈzā-shən, ˌkrim-nə-lə-ˈzā-\ noun

See criminalize defined for English-language learners

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 of criminalize from the Web

Twelve United Nations agencies called in June for an end to discrimination in health care and the elimination of laws that criminalize gender expression and relationships between consenting adults.

— nick cumming-bruce, New York Times, "U.N. Officials Condemn Arrests of Gays in Azerbaijan, Egypt and Indonesia," 13 Oct. 2017
The three major policies in SB 54 are: (1) jail time for first-time, class-C felons; (2) graduating penalties for misdemeanors; and (3) return to criminalizing violating conditions of release from jail.

— author: sen. john coghill, Alaska Dispatch News, "Revise the Alaska crime bill, but not in panic mode," 4 Oct. 2017
While all states define bullying, few take the extra step of criminalizing it.

— jessie balmert, Cincinnati.com, "School bullies could face criminal charges under Ohio bill," 4 Oct. 2017
Moore has suggested criminalizing homosexuality and banning Muslims from political office.

— charles j. sykes, Time, "Charlie Sykes: Roy Moore Signals the End of the Republican Party," 28 Sep. 2017
Jacobs maintained that the Justice Department now was trying to criminalize tactics that his client had deployed legally — and often with government knowledge.

— jeremy roebuck, Philly.com, "At federal trial, prosecutors use Main Line payday lender's words against him," 28 Sep. 2017
Critics argue the bill would violate student privacy and disproportionally criminalize students of color and those with disabilities.

— annysa johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Bill aims to protect teachers from assault; critics say it will boost school-to-prison pipeline," 25 Oct. 2017
Money bail is one of the engines of the mass incarceration of Black communities, essentially criminalizing poverty by jailing poor people who cannot to pay bail—even when these people have not been convicted of a crime.

— arisha hatch, Essence.com, "How Black Women Are Leading The Way On Bail Reform," 26 Sep. 2017
Officials have also heard opposition from homeless advocates, who say the proposal would criminalize homelessness.

— brad branan, sacbee, "‘You can’t arrest your way out of homelessness.’ County cites less than 5 panhandlers a month," 3 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'criminalize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of criminalize

¹criminal + -ize

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1956

See Words from the same year

criminalize Synonyms

Synonyms

illegalize, outlaw

Antonyms

decriminalize, legalize

Related Words

ban, bar, enjoin, forbid, interdict, prohibit, proscribe

Near Antonyms

allow, let, permit, suffer; approve, endorse (also indorse), sanction

CRIMINALIZE Defined for English Language Learners

criminalize

verb

Definition of criminalize for English Language Learners

: to make (something) illegal

Law Dictionary

criminalize

transitive verb crim·i·nal·ize \ ˈkri-mə-nə-ˌlīz \

legal Definition of criminalize

criminalized; criminalizing

: to make criminal : outlaw

the statute criminalizing the use of contraceptives
—R. H. Bork

— compare illegalize

—

criminalization

play \ˌkri-mə-nə-lə-ˈzā-shən, -ˌlī-\ noun

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criminalize

Definition of criminalize

criminalization

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Examples of criminalize in a Sentence

Recent Examples of criminalize from the Web

Origin and Etymology of criminalize

criminalize Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

CRIMINALIZE Defined for English Language Learners

criminalize

Definition of criminalize for English Language Learners

Law Dictionary

criminalize

legal Definition of criminalize

criminalization

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