pri·vat·ize privatizes privatizing privatized in BRIT, also use privatise If a company, industry, or service that is owned by the state is privatized, the government sells it and makes it a private company. The water boards are about to be privatized. a pledge to privatise the rail and coal industries. the newly privatized FM radio stations. nationalize + privatization privatizations pri·vati·za·tion the privatisation of British Rail. fresh rules governing the conduct of future privatizations. nationalization. if a government privatizes an organization, industry, or service that it owns or controls, it sells it nationalize
{f} make private, transfer control from governmental to private powers; change a business or industry from public to private control or private ownership (also privatise)