nationalize

verb

na·​tion·​al·​ize ˈna-sh(ə-)nə-ˌlīz How to pronounce nationalize (audio)
nationalized; nationalizing

transitive verb

1
: to give a national character to
2
: to invest control or ownership of in the national government
nationalization noun
nationalizer noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Nearly all of them helped prop up one of the world’s largest welfare states, nationalizing everything from public utilities to the Central Bank. Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024 His policies — which included nationalizing production, boosting wages, and increasing welfare payments — were largely paid for by printing money, a cause of runaway inflation. thehustle.co, 22 Nov. 2024 Inside Cameron Miller's commitment to Wisconsin Under-the-radar recruits eager to showcase their skills on spring camp circuit Could MLB nationalize its media rights? New York Times, 17 May 2024 Guez also associates the image of a timeworn suitcase with the story of his maternal grandparents, who hid in the basement of a church in Lydda in 1948 as their property was nationalized by the new state of Israel. Karen Chernick, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019 See all Example Sentences for nationalize 

Word History

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nationalize was in 1799

Dictionary Entries Near nationalize

Cite this Entry

“Nationalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nationalize. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

nationalize

verb
na·​tion·​al·​ize ˈnash-nəl-ˌīz How to pronounce nationalize (audio)
-ən-ᵊl-
nationalized; nationalizing
1
: to make national
2
: to remove from private ownership and place under government control
nationalize railroads
nationalization noun

Legal Definition

nationalize

transitive verb
na·​tion·​al·​ize ˈna-shə-nə-ˌlīz How to pronounce nationalize (audio)
nationalized; nationalizing
: to invest control or ownership of in the national government

More from Merriam-Webster on nationalize

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