decriminalization

Fetched 2026-10-26 (cache).

Synonyms: decriminalisation, criminalization

Antonyms: decriminalisation, criminalization

Related words from Datamuse; suggestions, not definitions.

Noun

1. The act of making an activity or substance no longer [[criminalized]] (no longer a [[crime]], subject to criminal penalties, to perform or possess). {{q|Compare {{m|en|legalization}}, which often implies [[regulation]].}}
2. The act of ceasing to treat a person as a [[criminal]], by making their activities [[legal]] or no longer subjecting them to the {{w|criminal justice system}} (but instead possibly the mental healthcare system, etc).

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wiktionary dump) · cached copy, not a rewrite.