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

• illegalize
• outlaw

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

One of the president’s executive orders was to instruct the U.S. attorney general to abstain for 75 days from enforcing the law criminalizing its hosting and distribution. —Kelly Evans, CNBC, 21 Jan. 2025

The Espionage Act There are several federal laws that can be read to criminalize the public disclosure of national security secrets. —Gabe Rottman, The Mercury News, 10 Jan. 2025

Homeless advocates argued that punishing people who need a place to sleep would criminalize homelessness. —Michael Casey The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 28 Dec. 2024

The legislation would also criminalize deepfake pornography. —Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

criminal entry 1 + -ize

First Known Use

circa 1956, in the meaning defined above

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