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

The recent wave of criminalizing homelessness stems directly from the U.S. Supreme Court decision Grants Pass v. Johnson, a June ruling that allows municipalities to fine or arrest people experiencing homelessness for sleeping outside, even when no shelter is available. —Bonnie Kahn Ognisanti, Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025

Rather than stand against attacks on sanctuary policies, Adams has repeatedly promoted anti-immigrant rhetoric, feeding into the fear mongering that criminalizes immigrants simply for existing in our city. —Melissa Mark-Viverito, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2025

First lady Melania Trump called out congressional Democrats during a Capitol Hill Roundtable on Monday afternoon over a bill that would criminalize the sharing of intimate imagery online without consent. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025

Why criminalize your own citizens for something that most people in Congress are probably doing on the low? —Javier Hasse, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

criminal entry 1 + -ize

First Known Use

circa 1956, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for criminalize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• decentralize
• democratize

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