verbformalless common
to put a private business, industry, or service under government ownership or control
The government nationalized the railway after the financial crisis.
Common phrases & grammar
nationalize an industry · nationalize a company
American English
How to pronounce nationalize
verbC1
NAAshuhnuhlaiz
/ˈnæ.ʃə.nəˌlaɪz/
4 syllables · Stress the first syllable.
to put a private business, industry, or service under government ownership or control
What to listen for
The usual pronunciation is /ˈnæ.ʃə.nəˌlaɪz/. Some speakers use the shorter form /ˈnæʃ.nəˌlaɪz/.
Usual pronunciation/ˈnæ.ʃə.nəˌlaɪz/
Shorter pronunciation/ˈnæʃ.nəˌlaɪz/
Meanings & examples
Related words & forms
Drop the final e before -ing: nationalizing.