What does decriminalize mean?
Decriminalize is a transitive verb meaning to remove criminal penalties from an act that was previously punishable as a crime. Crucially, decriminalization is not the same as legalization: when a government decriminalizes something — say, the possession of small amounts of cannabis — people can no longer be arrested or imprisoned for it, but the behavior may still be prohibited or subject to civil fines and other non-criminal sanctions. The word is most at home in legal, political, and journalistic writing, appearing frequently in debates over drugs, abortion, homosexuality, and other areas where reform movements seek to shift conduct from the criminal justice system into civil or regulatory frameworks. Its noun form is decriminalization. Because the term sits on a spectrum between full prohibition and full legality, careful writers use it precisely to signal that an activity has been depenalized without being endorsed or formally permitted under law.
verbTo remove criminal penalties from an act or behavior that was previously treated as a crime, typically by legislation, without necessarily making it legal or regulated.
- To abolish or reduce the criminal status of an act, removing criminal penalties such as arrest or imprisonment while it may remain subject to civil penalties or regulation.
"The state legislature voted to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana."
"Several European countries moved to decriminalize personal drug use in the 1990s."
"Activists have long argued that society should decriminalize homelessness rather than punish it."
Decriminalizing something doesn't make it legal — it just means you probably won't be arrested for it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of decriminalize
Decriminalize is formed from the prefix de- (indicating removal or reversal) combined with criminal, which derives from Latin criminalis, from crimen ('charge' or 'offense'). The verb pattern follows the productive English suffix -ize, borrowed via Greek-derived forms, giving the sense 'to strip of criminal character.' The word emerged in twentieth-century English alongside modern legislative reform debates, and its relatives include crime, incriminate, and criminology.
Related word forms
How decriminalize is actually used
Decriminalize is primarily used in legal, political, and journalistic contexts and carries a neutral-to-reformist connotation. It is a transitive verb taking the act, substance, or behavior as its object. It differs importantly from legalize: decriminalized conduct may still attract civil fines or administrative sanctions, so precision matters in legal writing.
Easily confused with decriminalize
Legalize makes an activity lawful and often establishes a regulated framework for it, whereas decriminalize merely removes criminal penalties while the activity may still be prohibited or subject to civil fines.