privatize: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal (Business, Political, Academic)
Quick answer
What does “privatize” mean?
To transfer ownership of a business, industry, or service from the state or government to private individuals or companies.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To transfer ownership of a business, industry, or service from the state or government to private individuals or companies.
More broadly, it can refer to applying private-sector principles (like competition, profit-seeking, and individual ownership) to functions or assets previously managed collectively or by public authorities. It is often a part of economic or ideological reform policies.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, the related noun 'privatisation' is spelt with an 's'. In American English, it's 'privatization'. The term is closely associated with the economic policies of Margaret Thatcher in the UK and Ronald Reagan in the US.
Connotations
In the UK, 'privatise' is strongly associated with the Thatcher era policies on railways, utilities (water, gas, electricity), and British Telecom. In the US, the term is used more broadly for federal and state assets but is less historically tied to a single political moment, though Reagan-era policies are a key reference.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties within the relevant discourse domains (economics, politics, business).
Grammar
How to Use “privatize” in a Sentence
[Government/They] privatized [industry/company].[Industry/Company] was privatized [by the government] [in the 1980s].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “privatize” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The government aims to privatise the remaining stake in Royal Mail.
- Many argue it was a mistake to privatise the water companies.
American English
- The state legislature voted to privatize the toll road system.
- They are considering a plan to privatize airport security.
adverb
British English
- The industry was run increasingly privatised-ly, focusing on shareholder returns. [Note: Very rare and awkward usage]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form; 'privately' is used for the general concept, not the process of transfer.]
adjective
British English
- The privatised rail network has faced criticism over fares and reliability.
- A newly privatised utility company.
American English
- The privatized prison system is a topic of intense debate.
- Investors showed strong interest in the privatized space industry.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The board recommended the company be privatized to improve its financial agility.
Academic
The paper analyses the long-term effects of the decision to privatize the national postal service.
Everyday
People are worried the council will privatize the local leisure centre.
Technical
The government initiated a voucher-based scheme to privatize portions of the pension system.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “privatize”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “privatize”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “privatize”
- Using 'privatize' to mean 'make private' in a personal sense (e.g., 'I privatized my social media account' – incorrect; use 'made private'). Confusing it with 'personalize'.
- Incorrect: 'The company was privatized from its founders.' (Correct if it was state-owned first).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes. It refers to the transfer of state-owned assets, which are typically large-scale industries, utilities, or services (rail, post, water). It is not used for selling a small, family-run shop.
'Privatize' means changing the *ownership* from public to private. 'Outsource' means contracting a private company to perform a specific service or function, while the asset or ultimate responsibility may remain with the public body. A government could outsource IT services without privatizing the entire department.
Yes, for proponents of free-market economics, it connotes increased efficiency, innovation, competition, and reduced taxpayer burden. It is a positive term in such contexts.
The process or instance is 'privatization' (US) / 'privatisation' (UK). A specific act can be called 'a privatization'.
To transfer ownership of a business, industry, or service from the state or government to private individuals or companies.
Privatize is usually formal (business, political, academic) in register.
Privatize: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpraɪvətaɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpraɪvəˌtaɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No specific idiom, but part of phrases like] 'a wave of privatizations'”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of taking something from the 'public' (like a pub-lic park) and making it 'private' (like a private garden). The '-ize' suffix means 'to make'. So, privatize = to make private.
Conceptual Metaphor
GOVERNMENT IS A HOUSEHOLD: Selling off assets to pay debts or improve efficiency. COMPETITION IS A RACE: Introducing private companies to make services run faster/better.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most accurate antonym for 'privatize'?