privatize
UK[ˈpraɪvətaɪz]US[ˈpraɪvəˌtaɪz]
v
to transfer (a business, industry, or service) from public to private ownership and control.
v
to cause (something) to be under private control or run for private profit.
Morpheme Breakdown
private
ize
private
not public.
ize
to make, to become, to treat in a specific way.
Etymology
the word privatize is a modern english formation, constructed by adding the productive verb-forming suffix "-ize" to the existing adjective "private." the adjective "private" itself originates from the latin privatus, the past participle of privare meaning "to bereave, to deprive, to set apart," derived from privus meaning "one's own, individual." this root, privus, is traced back to the proto-indo-european per- meaning "forward, through, in front of," which also gave rise to concepts of being first or separate. the semantic logic of the word is transparent: to privatize is literally "to make private," transforming state-owned or public assets into entities owned and managed by private individuals or companies, thus shifting them from the communal sphere to the individual or corporate domain.
Analysis
Structure: private + ize
- private: from latin privatus (withdrawn from public life, belonging to oneself), functioning as the core adjective meaning "not public."
- ize: from greek -izein via latin -izare, a verb-forming suffix meaning "to make, to become, to treat in a specific way."
Examples
the government decided to privatize the national railway system.
many state-owned enterprises were privatized during the economic reforms.
there is ongoing debate about whether to privatize the city's water supply.