WorldAugust 8, 2026
decriminalises
dee-KRIM-ih-nuh-ly-ziz
Definition
To remove the criminal status or penalties previously associated with a particular action or practice under the law.
Etymology
Derived from the prefix 'de-' (reversal or removal) combined with 'criminal' and the suffix '-ize' (to make or become). It entered English in the 20th century to describe the legal process of reducing the severity of legislative classifications.
In the news
In the context of corporate law, the term refers to shifting specific regulatory violations from the criminal sphere to civil matters, thereby easing the compliance burden for listed firms.
Corporate law changes to ease compliance, boost buyback flexibility for listed firms
Read the full article ↗BusinessLine