privatize

/ˌpraɪvəˈtaɪz/

/ˈpraɪvɪtaɪz/

Other forms: privatized; privatizing; privatizes

To privatize is to switch ownership or control from public, or government-run, to private. The US has a history of deciding to privatize previously government-controlled railroads.

If profit making companies took over every school in the country, turning all public schools into private ones, it would privatize education. Most countries have a variety of public and private industries — in the US, the post office, many schools, public universities, and the police, among other services, are in the public sector. If this changed, they would privatize.

Definitions of privatize

1. verb

   change from governmental to private control or ownership
   “The oil industry was privatized”

   synonyms: privatise

   type of:

   denationalise, denationalize

   put under private control or ownership