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
    Moving a company or organisation from the government to private owners, who then control it.

    The privatisation of the railways changed the way train tickets were sold.

    Many workers were worried about losing their jobs after privatisation.

    UsageSay the privatisation of the railways, or rail privatisation.

    Similardenationalisation, sell-off

    Oppositenationalisation

  2. 2
    making personalnounrarecountable or uncountable
    When something, like religion or a feeling, becomes a private, personal matter instead of something shared in public.

    She thinks the privatisation of faith has made people shy about their beliefs.

    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

It is made from the word privatise with the ending -ation.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact