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criminalize

[ krim-uh-nl-ahyz ]

verb (used with object)

criminalized, criminalizing.
  1. to make punishable as a crime:

    To reduce the graffiti on subway cars, he wants to criminalize the selling of spray paint to minors.

  2. to make a criminal of:

    Drug use has criminalized him.



criminalize

/ ˈɪɪəˌɪ /

verb

  1. to make (an action or activity) criminal
  2. to treat (a person) as a criminal
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˌԲˈپDz, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • i·Բ··tDz noun
  • c··Բ··tDz noun
  • ·i·Բ· verb (used with object) recriminalized recriminalizing
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Word History and Origins

Origin of criminalize1

First recorded in 1955–60; criminal + -ize
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The bill sought to criminalize loitering with intent to buy sex and build on existing state law to make it a felony to solicit anyone under 18 for sex.

From

An American citizen was held in a Florida jail cell on ICE’s orders after he was charged under a new, restrictive immigration law criminalizing “unauthorized alien” entry into the state.

From

The activist Daniel Hunter is right to observe that “Trump’s desire to criminalize protests against him is obvious… Trump would relish the opportunity to use the Insurrection Act more broadly against opponents.”

From

“It’s unjust to criminalize someone because of a tattoo,” said Araujo, 32.

From

After David Walker and Nat Turner took that power of literacy to yet another level, the entire region began criminalizing Black literacy.

From

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ˌˈԲٲcriminal justice