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 the Russian invasion in February 2022 and the ongoing three-year conflict, Kyiv took steps to legalize medical cannabis in December 2023 to help address the rising public health challenges caused by the war.
—
Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
For decades, state lawmakers had shot down plans to legalize casino gambling.
—Ben Paviour, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms, became the first hallucinogenic substance to be decriminalized in the U.S. after Denver voted to legalize possession of it in 2019.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025
Before sports betting was legalized, Heather Eshleman, the prevention manager at the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling, got roughly three requests a year from educators requesting presentations on sports betting addiction.
—Rachel Hale, USA Today, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for legalize
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Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
For decades, state lawmakers had shot down plans to legalize casino gambling.
—Ben Paviour, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms, became the first hallucinogenic substance to be decriminalized in the U.S. after Denver voted to legalize possession of it in 2019.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025
Before sports betting was legalized, Heather Eshleman, the prevention manager at the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling, got roughly three requests a year from educators requesting presentations on sports betting addiction.
—Rachel Hale, USA Today, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for legalize
Cite this Entry
“Legalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legalize. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
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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