noun
Uncommon
privatization
preye-vih-teye-ZAYSHN
Privatization (noun) means the process of moving a business, service, or industry from government ownership into private hands. Example: “The privatization of the railway sparked heated debate in parliament.”
noun
1
The process of moving a business, service, or industry from government ownership into private hands.
"The privatization of the railway sparked heated debate in parliament."
"Critics argued the privatization of water utilities raised prices for consumers."
How to use privatization
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSelling off or transferring something the government used to run into private ownership.
Common pairings
privatization of
push for privatization
oppose privatization
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Word forms
- Plural
- privatizations
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ of the railway sparked heated debate in parliament.
Etymology
Modeled on the German word Privatisierung, and popularized in English by economist Sidney Merlin in the 1940s when discussing post-war German economic policy.
Class of 1940
privatization joined the language around 1940.
See the full Class of 1940 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for privatization
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for privatization →
Frequently asked questions
What does “privatization” mean?
The word “privatization” means the process of moving a business, service, or industry from government ownership into private hands. In plain terms, selling off or transferring something the government used to run into private ownership.
How do you pronounce “privatization”?
“Privatization” is pronounced preye-vih-teye-ZAYSHN (/ˌpɹaɪvətaɪˈzeɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “privatization” in a sentence?
Here is “privatization” used in a sentence: “The privatization of the railway sparked heated debate in parliament.”
What is the opposite of “privatization”?
The opposite of “privatization” — its antonyms — is nationalization.
What part of speech is “privatization”?
“Privatization” is a noun.
Where does the word “privatization” come from?
The word “privatization” dates back to around 1940 and comes from German. Modeled on the German word Privatisierung, and popularized in English by economist Sidney Merlin in the 1940s when discussing post-war German economic policy.
Is “privatization” a common word?
“Privatization” is an uncommon word in modern English.
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