na·tion·al·ize
ˈna-sh(ə-)nə-ˌlīz 
nationalized; nationalizing
1
: to give a national character to
2
: to invest control or ownership of in the national government
na·tion·al·iza·tion
variants
also British nationalisation
ˌnashənᵊlə̇ˈzāshən,
-shnələ̇ˈ-,
ˌnaash-,
ˌnaish-,
-ᵊlˌīˈ-,
-nəˌlīˈ-
plural -s
: the action or process of nationalizing : the state of being nationalized
the nationalization of culture, taste, mind—
P. W. Kurtz
P. W. Kurtza bill proposing the nationalization of mines—C. W. A. Veditz
C. W. A. Veditzthe Bolsheviks … decreed immediate nationalization and distribution of all the land—M. W. Straight
M. W. StraightExamples of nationalize in a Sentence
Verb
The government nationalized the health-care system in the mid-1950s.
nationalizing the country's oil supply
Recent Examples on the Web
Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 8 June 2026
In April 1951 the reformist politician Mohammed Mossadegh became the country’s premier, with a mandate to nationalize the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, the British corporate giant that controlled Iran’s oil production.
—Andrew Arsan, The New York Review of Books, 6 June 2026
While Keiko has been offering to attract more foreign investment by cutting red tape, Sánchez initially promised to nationalize large sectors of the economy and to replace imports with local production — an economic policy reminiscent of Cuba or North Korea.
—Simeon Tegel, NPR, 6 June 2026
But Democrats are nationalizing the election as a referendum on an unpopular president.
—John Seiler, Oc Register, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for nationalize
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Verb
Allow that industry to be nationalized, and the left will soon target others, destroying our economy and our personal liberty.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 8 June 2026
In April 1951 the reformist politician Mohammed Mossadegh became the country’s premier, with a mandate to nationalize the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, the British corporate giant that controlled Iran’s oil production.
—Andrew Arsan, The New York Review of Books, 6 June 2026
While Keiko has been offering to attract more foreign investment by cutting red tape, Sánchez initially promised to nationalize large sectors of the economy and to replace imports with local production — an economic policy reminiscent of Cuba or North Korea.
—Simeon Tegel, NPR, 6 June 2026
But Democrats are nationalizing the election as a referendum on an unpopular president.
—John Seiler, Oc Register, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for nationalize
Cite this Entry
“Nationalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nationalize. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nationalize
verb
na·tion·al·ize
ˈnash-nəl-ˌīz
-ən-ᵊl-
nationalized; nationalizing
1
: to make national
2
: to remove from private ownership and place under government control
nationalize railroads
Legal Definition
nationalize
transitive verb
na·tion·al·ize
ˈna-shə-nə-ˌlīz
nationalized; nationalizing
: to invest control or ownership of in the national government
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