nationalize

verb

na·​tion·​al·​ize ˈna-sh(ə-)nə-ˌlīz How to pronounce nationalize (audio)
nationalized; nationalizing

transitive verb

1
: to give a national character to
2
: to invest control or ownership of in the national government
nationalization noun
nationalizer noun

Examples of nationalize in a Sentence

The government nationalized the health-care system in the mid-1950s. nationalizing the country's oil supply
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Social media can nationalize a local news story within minutes. Arthur L. Kellermann, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024 Founded in 1845 and based in the small eastern German town of Glashütte in Saxony, A. Lange & Söhne had been nationalized and shuttered by the Soviet state following World War II. Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2024 In 1979, legislators fully nationalized the handling of disasters with the creation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Justin McBrien / Made By History, TIME, 9 Oct. 2024 In the United Kingdom, the Labour Party nationalized major industries and created a comprehensive welfare state, which magnified the country’s financial challenges. Melvyn P. Leffler, Foreign Affairs, 14 June 2018 See all Example Sentences for nationalize 

Word History

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nationalize was in 1799

Dictionary Entries Near nationalize

Cite this Entry

“Nationalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nationalize. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

nationalize

verb
na·​tion·​al·​ize ˈnash-nəl-ˌīz How to pronounce nationalize (audio)
-ən-ᵊl-
nationalized; nationalizing
1
: to make national
2
: to remove from private ownership and place under government control
nationalize railroads
nationalization noun

Legal Definition

nationalize

transitive verb
na·​tion·​al·​ize ˈna-shə-nə-ˌlīz How to pronounce nationalize (audio)
nationalized; nationalizing
: to invest control or ownership of in the national government

More from Merriam-Webster on nationalize

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