Noun: decriminalization dee,kri-mu-nu-lu'zey-shun [N. Amer], dee,kri-mu-nu-lI'zey-shun [Brit]
- Legislation that makes something legal that was formerly illegal
"The decriminalization of marijuana possession was a contentious issue";
- decriminalisation [Brit]
Derived forms: decriminalizations
Type of: lawmaking, legislating, legislation
Antonym: criminalization
Encyclopedia: Decriminalization