verb
decriminalize
Decriminalize (verb) means to change the law so that something is no longer treated as a crime.
verb
1
To change the law so that something is no longer treated as a crime.
"The House of Representatives approved decriminalizing marijuana at the federal level on Friday in the first time Congress has acted on the issue."
— Deirdre Walsh, House Approves Decriminalizing Marijuana; Bill To Stall In Senate (2020)
"The court’s decision decriminalizes abortions in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, and means that any woman should be able to seek the procedure from a health professional without fear of criminal prosecution."
— Julie Turkewitz, Colombia Decriminalizes Abortion, Bolstering Trend Across Region (2022)
"The march to decriminalize drugs moved further across the nation on Tuesday despite continued federal prohibition."
— Thomas Fuller, Oregon Decriminalizes Small Amounts of Heroin and Cocaine; Four States Legalize Marijuana (2020)
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Etymology
A back-formation from decriminalization, equivalent to de- plus criminalize.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for decriminalize
See all rhymes for decriminalize →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of decriminalize?
"decriminalize" (verb) means to change the law so that something is no longer treated as a crime.
What is another word for decriminalize?
Other words for "decriminalize" include legitimate, legitimatize, legitimize, legitimatise, decriminalise, legitimise.
What is the opposite of decriminalize?
The opposite of "decriminalize" is criminalize.
