Denationalize

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Denationalize \De*na"tion*al*ize\, v. t. [imp. & p. p.
     {Denationalized}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Denationalizing}.] [Cf. F.
     d['e]nationaliser.]
     1. To divest or deprive of national character or rights.
        [1913 Webster]
  


              Bonaparte's decree denationalizes, as he calls it,
              all ships that have touched at a British port.
                                                    --Cobbett.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              An expatriated, denationalized race.  --G. Eliot.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. to change (something, as an industry or business) from
        state to private ownership or control; as, the British
        denationalization of steel.
  
     Syn: privatize, denationalise.
          [WordNet 1.5]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  denationalize
       v : put under private control or ownership; "The steel industry
           was denationalized" [syn: {denationalise}] [ant: {nationalize},
            {nationalize}]