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

Seattle’s Pride Weekend celebrations, announced by the city’s organizing committee months before matches were assigned, have collided with the legal and societal norms of Iran and Egypt, countries that criminalize or severely penalize LGBTQ+ identities. —Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025

Others have been charged after publicly urging an election boycott, which was criminalized under the new election laws. —Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 4 Dec. 2025

On one thing, Newsom and I agree — criminalizing chronically absent students and their families is a bad idea. —Jon England, Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2025

When we are stigmatized or criminalized simply for being ourselves, the result is profound psychological harm. —Pamuela A Halliwell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Nov. 2025

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