criminalize

Other spellings

• (UK) criminalise

Word parts

criminal + -ize

Verb

Plain form criminalize

Third-person singular criminalizes

Past tense criminalized

Past participle criminalized

Present participle criminalizing

1. (transitive) (law) If something is criminalized, it is made a crime.
   • Antonym: decriminalize

   Advocates pushed for gun possession to be criminalized.

Related words

• criminal
• criminalization