nationalize
verb
na·tion·al·ize
ˈna-sh(ə-)nə-ˌlīz 
nationalized; nationalizing
1
: to give a national character to
2
: to invest control or ownership of in the national government
Examples of nationalize in a Sentence
The government nationalized the health-care system in the mid-1950s.
nationalizing the country's oil supply
Recent Examples on the Web
The Suez Crisis Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalizes the Suez Canal, a vital trade route connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
—
Bryan Pietsch, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2023
Over the summer, the government forcibly nationalized a Catholic hospital.
—Alexander Raikin, National Review, 14 Sep. 2023
In 1952, President Harry S. Truman tried to avert a strike of the United Steelworkers of America by nationalizing the steel industry, only to be met with a lawsuit from steel companies.
—Katie Rogers, New York Times, 26 Sep. 2023
Kolomoisky previously owned Ukraine’s largest savings and loan bank, PrivatBank, which was nationalized in 2016 to prevent its insolvency after $5.5 billion in assets went missing.
—Serhiy Morgunov, Washington Post, 4 Sep. 2023
Both companies had been finalizing sales to local buyers when President Vladimir Putin signed an order nationalizing their local assets earlier this month.
—Hanna Ziady, CNN, 26 July 2023
Betting on Biden: Republicans in this year’s Kentucky and Mississippi governor’s races are trying to nationalize their races by tying Democrats to President Joe Biden, the AP writes.
—Bridget Bowman, NBC News, 3 Oct. 2023
Founded in 1920 and nationalized in 1947, the carrier was slowly privatized in the 1990s, and only 51 percent of shares in it must be held by Australians, while the rest may be held by offshore investors.
—Natasha Frost, New York Times, 23 Sep. 2023
Kolomoisky previously owned Ukraine's largest savings and loan bank, PrivatBank, which was nationalized in 2016 to prevent its insolvency after $5.5 billion in assets went missing.
—Serhiy Morgunov, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Sep. 2023
See More
Bryan Pietsch, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2023
Over the summer, the government forcibly nationalized a Catholic hospital.
—Alexander Raikin, National Review, 14 Sep. 2023
In 1952, President Harry S. Truman tried to avert a strike of the United Steelworkers of America by nationalizing the steel industry, only to be met with a lawsuit from steel companies.
—Katie Rogers, New York Times, 26 Sep. 2023
Kolomoisky previously owned Ukraine’s largest savings and loan bank, PrivatBank, which was nationalized in 2016 to prevent its insolvency after $5.5 billion in assets went missing.
—Serhiy Morgunov, Washington Post, 4 Sep. 2023
Both companies had been finalizing sales to local buyers when President Vladimir Putin signed an order nationalizing their local assets earlier this month.
—Hanna Ziady, CNN, 26 July 2023
Betting on Biden: Republicans in this year’s Kentucky and Mississippi governor’s races are trying to nationalize their races by tying Democrats to President Joe Biden, the AP writes.
—Bridget Bowman, NBC News, 3 Oct. 2023
Founded in 1920 and nationalized in 1947, the carrier was slowly privatized in the 1990s, and only 51 percent of shares in it must be held by Australians, while the rest may be held by offshore investors.
—Natasha Frost, New York Times, 23 Sep. 2023
Kolomoisky previously owned Ukraine's largest savings and loan bank, PrivatBank, which was nationalized in 2016 to prevent its insolvency after $5.5 billion in assets went missing.
—Serhiy Morgunov, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nationalize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1799, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near nationalize
Cite this Entry
“Nationalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nationalize. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
nationalize
verb
na·tion·al·ize
ˈnash-nəl-ˌīz
-ən-ᵊl-
nationalized; nationalizing
1
: to make national
2
: to remove from private ownership and place under government control
nationalize railroads
Legal Definition
nationalize
transitive verb
na·tion·al·ize
ˈna-shə-nə-ˌlīz
nationalized; nationalizing
: to invest control or ownership of in the national government
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