privatize
verb
pri·vat·ize
ˈprī-və-ˌtīz 
privatized; privatizing; privatizes
: 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
Jeff Bailey 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
Project 2025 — a conservative think tank’s outline for Trump’s second presidency — called for the dismantling of NOAA and for its functions to be privatized.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2025
Advertisement Advertisement With the dissolution of the Department of Education and increased pressures to privatize K-12 education, there are valuable lessons to be learned from the devastating impact for-profit interests had on higher education.
—Miguel Cardona, Time, 23 Apr. 2025
The idea of privatizing the Postal Service has also garnered support from Elon Musk, who oversees the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), per The New York Times.
—David Chiu, People.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Now there are those in Washington, Elon Musk and others, who want to privatize this postal service.
—Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for privatize
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.
Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2025
Advertisement Advertisement With the dissolution of the Department of Education and increased pressures to privatize K-12 education, there are valuable lessons to be learned from the devastating impact for-profit interests had on higher education.
—Miguel Cardona, Time, 23 Apr. 2025
The idea of privatizing the Postal Service has also garnered support from Elon Musk, who oversees the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), per The New York Times.
—David Chiu, People.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Now there are those in Washington, Elon Musk and others, who want to privatize this postal service.
—Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for privatize
Cite this Entry
“Privatize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/privatize. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
privatize
transitive verb
pri·va·tize
ˈprī-və-ˌtīz
privatized; privatizing
: to make private
especially
: to change (as a business or industry) from public to private control or ownership
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share