Nationalization is when a government takes control of private businesses, industries, or resources and makes them publicly owned. It is often done to protect key services, control strategic resources, or pursue social or economic goals.
From *national* (relating to a nation) + *-ize* (to make) + *-ation* (the process of). The term became common in the 19th and 20th centuries during debates about state control of industries.
Nationalization flips ownership from private to public—at least on paper, the business now belongs to the whole nation. The same process can look heroic or frightening depending on who tells the story: one side calls it protection, the other calls it seizure. It’s a good example of how economic vocabulary is always loaded with politics.
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