de‧crim‧in‧a‧lize (also decriminalise British English) /diːˈkrɪmənəlaɪz, diːˈkrɪmɪnəlaɪz/ verb [transitive]
[Word Family: noun: crime, criminal, criminologist, criminology; verb: incriminate, criminalize ≠ decriminalize; adjective: criminal, incriminating; adverb: criminally]
to state officially that something is not illegal any more:
a campaign to decriminalize cannabis
—decriminalization /diːˌkrɪmənəlaɪˈzeɪʃən, diːˌkrɪmɪnəlaɪˈzeɪʃən $ -lə-/ noun [uncountable]

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲