privatize

verb

pri·​vat·​ize ˈprī-və-ˌtīz How to pronounce privatize (audio)
privatized; privatizing; privatizes

transitive verb

: to make private
especially : to change from public to private control or ownership
privatize an industry
The mayor's threat to privatize trash collection shook things up. Jeff Bailey
privatization noun

Examples of privatize in a Sentence

The city decided to privatize the municipal power company. a proposal to privatize the health-care system
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The United States Postal Service, which Musk wants to privatize, is also a crucial resource for many of the county’s rural citizens. Jenavieve Hatch, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 2025 Huntington Beach will have a special election on June 10 for voters to decide two ballot initiatives created in response to the City Council’s controversial pushes to consider privatizing the city library’s operations and to make a children’s book review board. Michael Slaten, Orange County Register, 5 Mar. 2025 Among its other duties, NOAA employs thousands of people to help accurately predict the weather through the National Weather Service; privatizing federal weather data has long been a project of some conservative lawmakers too. Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2025 That same month, the council majority also considered a proposal to privatize the library. Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for privatize

Word History

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of privatize was in 1948

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Cite this Entry

“Privatize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/privatize. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Legal Definition

privatize

transitive verb
pri·​va·​tize ˈprī-və-ˌtīz How to pronounce privatize (audio)
privatized; privatizing
: to make private
especially : to change (as a business or industry) from public to private control or ownership
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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