legalize
verb
le·gal·ize
ˈlē-gə-ˌlīz 
legalized; legalizing
: to make legal
especially
: to give legal validity or sanction to
Examples of legalize in a Sentence
They wanted to legalize gambling in their city.
The government has legalized the use of the new drug.
Recent Examples on the Web
Since medical cannabis was first legalized in Colorado in 1996, nearly half the country has legalized marijuana for recreational use.
—
Kerry Breen, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2024
In the eight years since marijuana was legalized in California for recreational use, 420 has been like a weed Black Friday.
—Christian Orozco, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for legalize 
Kerry Breen, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2024
In the eight years since marijuana was legalized in California for recreational use, 420 has been like a weed Black Friday.
—Christian Orozco, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for legalize
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'legalize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Legalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legalize. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
legalize
verb
le·gal·ize
ˈlē-gə-ˌlīz
legalized; legalizing
: to make legal
wanted to legalize gambling in their city
Legal Definition
legalize
transitive verb
le·gal·ize
ˈlē-gə-ˌlīz
legalized; legalizing
: to make legal
especially
: to give legal validity or sanction to
legalization
noun
legalizer
noun
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