— privatization , n.
/pruy"veuh tuyz'/ , v.t., privatized, privatizing .
1. to transfer from public or government control or ownership to private enterprise: a campaign promise to privatize some of the public lands.
2. to make exclusive; delimit or appropriate: special-interest groups attempting to privatize social issues.
Also, esp. Brit., privatise .
[ 1945-50; PRIVATE + -IZE ]