Definition

Verb: * To transfer (a business, industry, or service) from public or governmental ownership and control to private ownership and control.

Examples

• The government decided to privatise the national railway company to improve its efficiency.
• Many state-owned industries were privatised in the 1980s.
• The debate continues on whether to privatise the healthcare system.

Advanced Usage

• Privatisation (noun): The process or policy of privatising state-owned assets.
  • The privatisation of the water supply is a controversial topic.
• To be privatised: Used in passive voice to describe the entity being transferred.
  • Several public assets are scheduled to be privatised next year.

Variants and Related Words

• Privatize: The standard spelling in American English.
• Privatisation/Privatization (n): The act or instance of making something private.
• Denationalise (v): A close synonym, meaning to transfer from national to private ownership.

Synonyms

• Denationalise
• Sell off

Antonyms

• Nationalise
• Municipalise

Verb

1. change from governmental to private control or ownership
   • The oil industry was privatized