privatizar

to privatise

verb pree-bah-tee-SAHR Rare

Usage Note

Privatizar means to transfer ownership or control of a public entity to the private sector. The opposite is nacionalizar or estatizar. The noun is privatización, and the process is a frequent topic in Spanish political debate, particularly regarding utilities and transport. In Spain the verb follows the -zar spelling change: privaticé in the first-person preterite.

Examples

"El gobierno decidió privatizar la empresa pública."

Natural Translation

The government decided to privatise the state company.

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