criminalize
UK: /ˈkrɪm.ɪ.nəl.aɪz/ | US: /ˈkrɪm.ə.nəl.aɪz/
vt. to make an activity illegal by law
vt. to treat or portray someone as a criminal
The word "criminalize" combines "criminal," derived from Latin criminalis (pertaining to crime), with the suffix "-ize," from Greek -izein (to render or make). The root "criminal" traces back to Latin crimen (accusation, offense), while "-ize" is a productive suffix in English for forming verbs meaning "to cause to become." The term emerged in the 19th century, reflecting societal and legal processes of defining actions as unlawful.
Some governments criminalize the use of certain drugs.
Activists argue that the new law will criminalize poverty.
The proposal seeks to criminalize hate speech online.
Historically, societies have criminalized behaviors like blasphemy.
Critics warn that over-policing can criminalize entire communities.