DictionaryAI

privatisation

noun
UKpry-vi-ty-ZAY-shuhn/ˌpɹaɪvɪtaɪˈzeɪʃ(ə)n/USpry-vuh-ty-ZAY-shuhn/ˌpɹaɪvətaɪˈzeɪʃən/

Pluralprivatisations

US spellingprivatization · also used in the UK

2 meanings of privatisation

Practice

  1. 1
    selling offnouncountable or uncountable
    The handing over of a company or organisation from state ownership to private owners, who then own and run it.

    Water privatisation in England and Wales is still fiercely debated.

    The government pushed through a string of privatisations, selling off gas, electricity and telephone companies.

    UsageUsually the privatisation of something (of the railways), or with a noun in front: water privatisation, rail privatisation.

    Similardenationalisation, sell-off

    Oppositenationalisation

  2. 2
    making personalnounrarecountable or uncountable
    The process by which something, such as religious belief, family life or a feeling, becomes a private, personal matter rather than a public or shared one.

    Critics warned against the privatisation of religious belief, arguing that faith has always had a public side.

    Questioning the privilege of biology went hand in hand with a challenge to the privatization of the family and the notion that parents own children and may therefore treat them however they choose.
    1988, Laurie Sherman, “All In A Day's Work”

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Origin

Formed from privatise + -ation.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact