privatization
/ˌpraɪvətaɪˈzeɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌpraɪvətəˈzeɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌprīvə̇tə̇ˈzāshən -tˌīˈz-/ (ame, mw)
privatization — noun
- privatizationsingular
- privatizationsplural
1. the sale or transfer of a business, industry, or public service from government
the sale or transfer of a business, industry, or public service from government ownership to control by private companies or investors
The privatization of Japan's rail system split the network into six regional companies.
privatization + of + [industry/company]
Mizuki argued that the privatization of the city's water supply would raise prices for low-income households.
privatization of [service] as topic of public debate
After the privatization of the state airline, thousands of workers protested outside parliament.
Supporters of privatization claim that private companies often run services more efficiently than government agencies.
Heloísa studied the effects of privatization on public transport in her economics thesis.
- denationalization
a direct synonym, used especially in political science and historical contexts
- deregulation
related but distinct — removing government rules, not necessarily changing ownership
- nationalization
transfer of private businesses to government ownership; the exact opposite process
用法筆記
Often contrasted with nationalization, which describes the opposite process — a government taking control of a private business. The British English spelling privatisation is also widely used.