— criminalization , n.
/krim"euh nl uyz'/ , v.t., criminalized, criminalizing .
1. to make punishable as a crime: To reduce the graffiti on subway cars, he wants to criminalize the selling of spray paint to minors.
2. to make a criminal of: Drug use has criminalized him.
Also, esp. Brit., criminalise .
[ 1955-60; CRIMINAL + -IZE ]