Verb: criminalize 'kri-mi-nu,lIz
- Treat as a criminal
"The new law criminalized the possession of certain substances";
- criminalise [Brit]
- Declare illegal; ban
"Marijuana is criminalized in the U.S";
- outlaw, criminalise [Brit], illegalize, illegalise [Brit]
Derived forms: criminalized, criminalizes, criminalizing
Type of: disallow, do by [Brit], forbid, handle, interdict, nix [N. Amer, informal], prohibit, proscribe, treat, veto
Antonym: legalise [Brit]
Encyclopedia: Criminalize