Legal Definitions - nationalize

Definition: To bring an industry under governmental control or ownership. It can also mean to give a person the status of a citizen, which is called naturalization.

1. The government decided to nationalize the oil industry, which meant that they took control of it and made it a part of the government.

2. After living in the United States for five years, Maria applied to be naturalized and become a citizen.

The first example shows how the government can take control of an industry and make it a part of the government. This can happen for many reasons, such as to make sure that the industry is run in a way that benefits the country as a whole. The second example shows how a person can become a citizen of a country by going through a process called naturalization. This involves meeting certain requirements, such as living in the country for a certain amount of time and passing a test on the country's history and government.