Mirandize

M3I1R1A1N1D2I1Z10E1
US/mɪˈɹændaɪz/

verb

To inform someone who has been arrested of their constitutional rights.

“[1997. New York State Bar Journal, "Volume 69" We credit Judge John G. Gabbert of California with the first reported usage of "Mirandize" […] ]”

Scrabble 21

Meanings

verbMirandize (third-person singular simple present Mirandizes, present participle Mirandizing, simple past and past participle Mirandized)

present singular third person Mirandizes · participle present Mirandizing · participle past Mirandized · past Mirandized

  1. UStransitivegovernmentTo inform someone who has been arrested of their constitutional rights.

    1981. Television program Hill Street Blues, Season 1, Episode 7, "Film At Eleven". Lt. Furillo: Be sure to Mirandize them, Ray.

    3 more examples

    [1997. New York State Bar Journal, "Volume 69" We credit Judge John G. Gabbert of California with the first reported usage of "Mirandize" […] ]

    [2007. Anu Garg, "The dord, the diglet, and an avocado or two" To mirandize is to advise people under arrest of their legal rights, such as the right to remain silent under questioning, the right to legal counsel, etc.]

    2012. Garrett Graff, "The Threat Matrix" There was also a fierce debate over whether to Mirandize the detainees immediately. “You wouldn't Mirandize an American in this situation,” Knowles argued with Justice Department officials.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see

Origin

From Miranda + -ize. The former refers to the US Supreme Court case Miranda v. Arizona, after Ernesto Miranda.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

German jmd. belehren (über seine Rechte), jmd. seine Rechte vorlesen
  • jmd. belehren (über seine Rechte)Translations
  • jmd. seine Rechte vorlesenTranslations
Spanish mirandizar, explicar los derechos
  • mirandizarTranslations
  • explicar los derechosTranslations

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

Mirandize. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Mirandize

MLA

“Mirandize.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Mirandize. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Mirandize,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Mirandize.

Source: Mirandize on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.