nationalize
verb
na·tion·al·ize
ˈna-sh(ə-)nə-ˌlīz 
nationalized; nationalizing
1
: to give a national character to
2
: to invest control or ownership of in the national government
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
Just as Weil has tried to nationalize his race—wins in both districts could potentially turn the House blue and give Hakeem Jeffries the title of Speaker—Valimont is trying to make her contest as a referendum on checking Trump’s power.
—
Philip Elliott, Time, 31 Mar. 2025
CEOs’ disdain for Putin’s Russia is anchored in their knowledge that Putin is an untrustworthy dictator who might well nationalize their businesses at a moment’s notice.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Steven Tian, TIME, 26 Feb. 2025
This matters because legislation that was once confined to Texas, could now be nationalized, a development Texas voting rights advocates have long cautioned against.
—Sierra Rodriguez, The Denver Post, 14 Mar. 2025
But while nationalizing the rights should serve to maximize revenue and amplify the league’s exposure, Manfred and his team would first have to convince the clubs that such a transfer would be in their economic interests.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nationalize
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.
Philip Elliott, Time, 31 Mar. 2025
CEOs’ disdain for Putin’s Russia is anchored in their knowledge that Putin is an untrustworthy dictator who might well nationalize their businesses at a moment’s notice.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Steven Tian, TIME, 26 Feb. 2025
This matters because legislation that was once confined to Texas, could now be nationalized, a development Texas voting rights advocates have long cautioned against.
—Sierra Rodriguez, The Denver Post, 14 Mar. 2025
But while nationalizing the rights should serve to maximize revenue and amplify the league’s exposure, Manfred and his team would first have to convince the clubs that such a transfer would be in their economic interests.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nationalize
Cite this Entry
“Nationalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nationalize. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nationalize
verb
na·tion·al·ize
ˈnash-nəl-ˌīz
-ən-ᵊl-
nationalized; nationalizing
1
: to make national
2
: to remove from private ownership and place under government control
nationalize railroads
Legal Definition
nationalize
transitive verb
na·tion·al·ize
ˈna-shə-nə-ˌlīz
nationalized; nationalizing
: to invest control or ownership of in the national government
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share