criminalise

IPA/kɹˈɪmɪnəlˌaɪz/
IPA/kɹˈɪmɪnəlˌaɪz/

criminalise — verb

1. to make a particular activity or practice a criminal offence by introducing a la

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to make a particular activity or practice a criminal offence by introducing a law that bans it, so that anyone who does it can face legal punishment

Example

The new law criminalises the sale of single-use plastic items across the country.

criminalise + noun phrase — activity made illegal

In 2023 several countries criminalised workplace discrimination based on appearance.

Common collocations
  • criminalise + activity / practice / behaviour
  • criminalise + possession / sale / use of something
  • become / be criminalised (passive)
Synonyms
  • outlaw

    stronger, more urgent tone; often used for complete prohibition of an existing practice

  • ban

    more general; can be done by organisations, schools, or other non-government bodies

  • prohibit

    formal but broader in scope; does not necessarily carry criminal penalties

Antonyms
  • legalise

    to allow something by law, making it officially permitted

  • decriminalise

    to remove criminal penalties from an activity, though it may remain regulated

Grammar Patterns

criminalise + noun phrase

be criminalised (passive)

Usage Note

Frequently used in legal writing and news reporting. The subject is typically a government, parliament, legislature, or specific law. The opposite verb is decriminalise (to remove criminal penalties without necessarily making the activity fully legal). The US spelling is criminalize (with -ize).

Common Mistakes

The company criminalised stealing from its offices.
The company banned stealing from its offices.
Only a government or legislative body can criminalise something through a law; companies have internal rules, not criminal law.
The law criminalised people who smoked in public.
The law criminalised smoking in public places.
The object of criminalise must be the activity or practice, not the person who does it.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Criminalise is the most specific of these four — it means to make an activity a criminal offence, carrying the threat of prosecution, fines, or imprisonment. Outlaw is similar but carries a stronger, more dramatic tone, often used in historical or moral contexts (e.g. outlawing slavery or alcohol). Ban is the broadest term: a school can ban phones; a government can ban a substance. Ban does not necessarily involve criminal penalties. Prohibit is formal but general — it means to officially forbid something by rule or law, but the consequences may be civil rather than criminal. Decriminalise is the opposite: it removes criminal penalties while possibly keeping civil fines or regulation. For example, a country might decriminalise drug possession (no prison time) while criminalising public use (a criminal offence).

outlaw ↗ban ↗prohibit ↗decriminalise ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • make something a criminal offence
  • introduce laws to criminalise

Prepositions

  • under (under the new law)

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Criminalise comes from the word criminal (late Middle English, from Latin criminalis, based on crimen meaning 'charge' or 'crime') combined with the verb suffix -ise (UK spelling) or -ize (US spelling). The verb first appeared in English in the mid-1800s as societies began creating formal written criminal codes.