# decriminalization

> English word · Noun · IPA /diːˌkɹɪmɪnəlaɪzˈeɪʃən/ · frequency rank #47,565

## Definitions
1. The act of making an activity or substance no longer criminalized (no longer a crime, subject to criminal penalties, to perform or possess). (Compare legalization, which often implies regulation.)
2. The act of ceasing to treat a person as a criminal, by making their activities legal or no longer subjecting them to the criminal justice system (but instead possibly the mental healthcare system, etc).

## Etymology
From de- + criminalization or decriminalize + -ation.

## Common misspellings (26)
`dceriminalization`, `ddecriminalization`, `deccriminalization`, `decirminalization`, `decriimnalization`, `decrimianlization`, `decriminailzation`, `decriminaliaztion`, `decriminalizaiton`, `decriminalizasion`, `decriminalizatino`, `decriminalizationn`, `decriminalizatoin`, `decriminalizattion`, `decriminaliztaion`, `decriminalizzation`, `decriminallization`, `decriminalziation`, `decriminlaization`, `decriminnalization`, `decrimminalization`, `decrimnialization`, `decrmiinalization`, `decrriminalization`, `derciminalization`, `edcriminalization`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/decriminalization