What does illegalisation mean?
“Illegalisation” means the process or act of making something illegal, or the condition that results from such a process. It is used especially in legal, political, and policy contexts when discussing laws that prohibit conduct, restrict possession, or place a formerly lawful activity outside the permitted sphere. The noun is normally uncountable, as in “the illegalisation of abortion,” although a plural form exists. The related word “illegality” differs in focus: illegality describes conduct or a condition that violates the law, while illegalisation identifies the act or process of creating that legal prohibition. The term is chiefly associated with British spelling, whereas American English more often uses “illegalization.” It is a precise option for formal discussion of how laws make an activity unlawful.
nounThe act of making something illegal or the process of becoming illegal.
- The process or act of making something illegal.
- The condition of having become illegal.
"The law resulted in the illegalisation of several previously permitted activities."
"The committee debated the illegalisation of substances previously classified as legal."
"The change in law contributed to the gradual illegalisation of the practice."
The noun is normally used in the uncountable singular form; the plural is grammatically possible but rare.
"Several such illegalisations significantly restricted what people could legally do."
Illegalisation turns what was once lawful into an offence; legalisation does the reverse.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of illegalisation
“Illegalisation” is formed within English by combining “illegal,” meaning unlawful, with the suffix “-isation,” which forms a noun denoting a process. “Illegal” comes from Latin “illegalis,” meaning unlawful, and is related to “legal,” from Latin “legalis.” Its use here parallels “legalisation” and “legalization,” although the two nouns describe opposite processes.
Related word forms
How illegalisation is actually used
The word is formal and relatively uncommon in everyday speech. It is usually uncountable, with plural forms used only rarely. In American English, “illegalization” is the standard spelling.
Easily confused with illegalisation
“Illegality” is the state or condition of being illegal, whereas “illegalisation” is the process or act of making something illegal.