criminalize: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Legal, Academic, News Media
Quick answer
What does “criminalize” mean?
To make an activity illegal by law.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To make an activity illegal by law.
To formally treat or characterize an action or person as criminal; to make someone a criminal in the eyes of the law or society.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: The British spelling is 'criminalise'. The American spelling is 'criminalize'. Usage is semantically identical.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties. It is a formal term that can be neutral (describing a legislative process) or carry a critical connotation (implying overly harsh or unjust legislation).
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties. Slightly higher frequency in American legal and political discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “criminalize” in a Sentence
[Government/Parliament] criminalized [activity/act]It is criminalized to [verb phrase]The criminalization of [activity]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “criminalize” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The new bill seeks to criminalise the unauthorised downloading of media.
- Many health experts argue against criminalising drug users.
American English
- Several states have moved to criminalize protests that block highways.
- The law would criminalize the sale of these substances.
adverb
British English
- N/A (The related adverb is 'criminally').
American English
- N/A (The related adverb is 'criminally').
adjective
British English
- N/A (The adjective form is 'criminal').
American English
- N/A (The adjective form is 'criminal').
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in discussions about regulatory compliance, e.g., 'New regulations could criminalize certain accounting practices.'
Academic
Common in law, sociology, criminology, and political science papers discussing the legislative process, social control, and drug policy.
Everyday
Used in news discussions and political debates, e.g., 'They want to criminalize protest.'
Technical
Core term in legal drafting and legislative texts. Precise meaning of defining an act as a crime with specific penalties.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “criminalize”
- Confusing 'criminalize' with 'incriminate' (to suggest someone is guilty of a crime).
- Using it for individuals: 'The police criminalized him.' (Incorrect; use 'charged' or 'arrested'). It applies to acts or behaviours.
- Misspelling: 'criminalise' (UK) vs. 'criminalize' (US).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Criminalize' is the standard, formal term. 'Illegalize' is much less common and can sound awkward or non-standard to native speakers; it is best avoided.
Most commonly, yes, it describes the process of making a previously legal activity illegal. However, it can also be used in a broader sense to describe treating or characterizing something as criminal.
No, not correctly. You criminalize an *act* or *behaviour*. For a person, you would use terms like 'charge', 'prosecute', 'convict', or 'stigmatize'.
The direct antonym is 'decriminalize' (to remove criminal penalties for an act). 'Legalize' is a stronger antonym, meaning to make something fully legal and often regulated.
To make an activity illegal by law.
Criminalize is usually formal, legal, academic, news media in register.
Criminalize: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkrɪm.ɪ.nə.laɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkrɪm.ə.nə.laɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[To] make a federal case out of [something] (US informal, related concept of treating something as more serious than it is)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of CRIMINAL + IZE. You 'ize' (make) something into a 'criminal' act.
Conceptual Metaphor
LAW IS A TOOL (for shaping behaviour). SHIFTING BOUNDARIES (between acceptable and unacceptable).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'to criminalize'?