What does illegalized mean?
Illegalized means made illegal, usually through a law, regulation, or official decision. It is a formal and relatively uncommon verb, especially associated with governments, courts, political movements, and organizations trying to restrict particular activities. For example, a jurisdiction may criminalize or outlaw a practice, and a government may illegalize the possession of certain substances or the use of particular technologies. The word can also be used more broadly when a policy changes what is legally permitted, even if the action is not itself described as a crime. In everyday conversation, people are more likely to say banned, prohibited, or made illegal. The construction works in both active and passive forms: a law illegalized the practice, or the practice was illegalized by the law. It is the past tense and past participle of illegalize.
verbTo make something illegal by law or official policy. The word is used especially in legal, political, and administrative contexts.
- To make something illegal by law, regulation, or official policy.
"The new regulation illegalized the practice of storing personal data without explicit consent."
"The council voted to illegalize the use of disposable plastic bags in local stores."
"The amendment effectively illegalized several forms of discriminatory employment."
Illegalized is the formal reverse of legalized: it describes the moment when a formerly tolerated practice becomes a crime.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does illegalized come from?
The word is formed from illegal, which comes from Latin illegalis, meaning unlawful, with the Latin-derived prefix in- expressing negation. The verb illegalize developed in English during the modern period to mean make unlawful or prohibit by law. It is related cognately to legal, legalize, and legality, all of which share the Latin root legalis, meaning lawful.
Related word forms
How illegalized is actually used
This is a relatively uncommon and more formal word than ban, outlaw, or prohibit. It is chiefly used in legal, governmental, political, and policy writing.