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
Starting in the 1920s and ’30s, a number of Latin American countries began nationalizing their oil and mining sectors.
—
Scott W. Stern, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025
Even after the oil industry was nationalized, social inequalities remained.
—Sabrina Weiss, The Dial, 23 Sep. 2025
National issues could be a focus of the race
Walker said the wide open race with the lack of a clear frontrunner with a statewide record probably means the race will be more nationalized.
—Molly Beck, jsonline.com, 15 Sep. 2025
The silver mines have recently been nationalized, but obviously there’s a wealth disparity, there are two cultures living side by side and misunderstanding each other.
—Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nationalize
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Scott W. Stern, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025
Even after the oil industry was nationalized, social inequalities remained.
—Sabrina Weiss, The Dial, 23 Sep. 2025
National issues could be a focus of the race
Walker said the wide open race with the lack of a clear frontrunner with a statewide record probably means the race will be more nationalized.
—Molly Beck, jsonline.com, 15 Sep. 2025
The silver mines have recently been nationalized, but obviously there’s a wealth disparity, there are two cultures living side by side and misunderstanding each other.
—Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nationalize
Cite this Entry
“Nationalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nationalize. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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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