v.
Pronunciation: ' kri-m ə -n ə l- ˌ ī z, ' krim-n ə - ˌ l ī z
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form: -ized ; -iz · ing
Date: circa 1956
: to make illegal : OUTLAW also : to turn into a criminal or treat as criminal
– crim · i · nal · i · za · tion \ ˌ kri-m ə -n ə l- ə - ' z ā -sh ə n, ˌ krim-n ə -l ə - ' z ā - \ noun