criminalize

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'criminalize' is correct and usable in written English.
It is a verb which means to make something a crime or to prosecute someone for a criminal offence. Example sentence: The government has criminalized hate speech in order to promote an inclusive society.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Negative Legal Moralists hold instead that immorality constitutes only a necessary condition for criminalization: we must not criminalize conduct unless it is immoral, but its immorality does not give us any positive reason to criminalize it.

SEP

Suppose that I betray a friend by frivolously revealing a secret that she had entrusted to me and that I knew mattered a lot to her: I have done her a grievous moral wrong, and might indeed have fatally damaged our friendship; but are we really to say that such conduct should (ceteris paribus) be criminal, or that its immorality gives us good reason to criminalize it?

SEP

Thus an instrumentalist approach to the justification of criminal law seems to leave it as something of an open question whether the law should criminalize only immoral conduct, or should subject only morally culpable agents to criminal liability.

SEP

Others argue that it is also under-inclusive, since we have good reason to criminalize kinds of conduct that do not cause or threaten harm (and whose criminalization is not aimed at preventing harm): conduct, for instance, that causes offence rather than harm (see Feinberg 1985; Simester and von Hirsch 2006, and 2011: chs.

SEP

The United States, Japan, and Australia, among other countries, introduced legislation to criminalize cyberstalking.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It was covert and often used extralegal means to criminalize various forms of political struggle and derail several social movements, such as those for civil rights and Puerto Rican independence.

Encyclopedia Britannica

An impure paternalist intervention would criminalize the prescription of narcotics by physicians or their production by pharmaceutical companies in order to protect the public.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Security Council moved unanimously on April 27 to adopt a resolution calling on all member states to criminalize acts of piracy in their domestic legal systems and to consider prosecuting pirates in domestic courts.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Practical limitations on the interpretation of such broad language are inevitable, however, because the principle, if applied fully, would criminalize most legislative and executive compromises.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Many have enforced — or passed — ordinances that critics say criminalize homelessness.

Independent

"Your behavior strengthens the voices of those who would criminalize every form of sex work, including porn," she wrote, addressing Deen directly.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing legal or ethical issues, use "criminalize" to specifically indicate making an action illegal under criminal law, distinguishing it from other forms of prohibition.

Common error

Avoid using "criminalize" when describing actions that are merely discouraged or frowned upon. Reserve it for situations where legal penalties and criminal charges are involved.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "criminalize" is as a transitive verb. It describes the action of making something illegal and punishable by law. Ludwig shows numerous examples of its use in legal and ethical contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "criminalize" is a transitive verb used to describe the act of making something illegal and punishable by law. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly used in legal, ethical, and policy discussions. While there are synonyms like "make illegal" or "outlaw", "criminalize" carries a specific legal weight. It is mostly seen in scientific publications, news reports, and encyclopedias, suggesting a formal and neutral register. When using "criminalize", ensure it accurately reflects the formal enactment of criminal laws to avoid misuse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make illegal

Focuses on the act of rendering something against the law, omitting the specific criminal aspect.

outlaw

Emphasizes prohibition, often with a strong moral or ethical connotation.

declare unlawful

Highlights the official declaration that something is not permitted under the law.

prohibit by law

Highlights the legal aspect of the prohibition, clarifying the source of the ban.

make punishable by law

Focuses on the punitive aspect, emphasizing that the action will result in legal penalties.

ban

A more general term for forbidding something, which may not always involve legal consequences.

render illicit

Emphasizes the forbidden or unauthorized nature of the action.

legislate against

Specifically refers to creating legislation to prevent or forbid something.

proscribe

A formal and somewhat archaic term for prohibiting or outlawing something.

impose sanctions on

Implies a formal punishment or restriction, often used in international relations or organizational contexts.

FAQs

How is "criminalize" used in legal discussions?

"Criminalize" is used to describe the act of making something illegal under criminal law. For example, a law might "criminalize certain actions" to protect public safety.

What's the difference between "criminalize" and "prohibit"?

"Prohibit" is a general term for forbidding something, while "criminalize" specifically means to make something a crime, subject to legal penalties. You might "prohibit smoking" in public places, but you would "criminalize theft".

Are there synonyms for "criminalize"?

Yes, you can use alternatives like "make illegal", "outlaw", or "ban", depending on the specific context. However, "criminalize" is more specific to legal contexts.

When is it appropriate to use "criminalize" in writing?

Use "criminalize" when discussing the enactment of laws that make specific actions punishable by the criminal justice system. Be precise; do not use it when you mean that something is just immoral or discouraged, but not illegal. Ensure accurate use of legal terms.