( BrE also crim·in·al·ise ) / ˈkrɪmɪnəlaɪz; NAmE / verb [ vn ]
1.
to make sth illegal by passing a new law :
The use of opium was not criminalized until fairly recently.
2.
to treat sb as a criminal
► crim·in·al·iza·tion , crim·in·al·isa·tion / ˌkrɪmɪnəlaɪˈzeɪʃn; NAmE -ləˈz-/ noun [ U ]