legalize

1 of 2

verb

le·​gal·​ize ˈlē-gə-ˌlīz 

legalized; legalizing

transitive verb

: to make legal

especially : to give legal validity or sanction to

legalization

ˌlē-gə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

legalizer

ˈlē-gə-ˌlī-zər 

noun

legalization

2 of 2

noun

le·​gal·​iza·​tion

variants also British legalisation

ˌlēgələ̇ˈzāshən -līˈz- sometimes ˌlig-

plural -s

: the act of legalizing : the state of being or having been legalized

the legalization of the employment of the navy in enforcing the laws of trade

—Edinburgh Review

legalization of a document to be submitted in evidence

Examples of legalize in a Sentence

Verb

They wanted to legalize gambling in their city.

The government has legalized the use of the new drug.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Carpenter also stressed that the industry has come a long way since Proposition 215, which legalized medical marijuana in California in 1996, and whose 30th anniversary is this year. — Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026

Idaho lawmakers passed a joint resolution last year to put a constitutional amendment before voters, asking them to allow only the Legislature, not the voters, the power to legalize marijuana, narcotics and other psychoactive drugs. — Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 14 July 2026

Activists tried to legalize medical cannabis and decriminalize possession of adult-use cannabis through the ballot a few years ago, but all the initiatives failed. — Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Holscher, in a video outside of a dispensary in Kansas City, made a case for legalizing marijuana for an additional source of revenue for the state, building up the local cannabis industry and for personal freedom. — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1652, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for legalize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize
• butterflies

Kids Definition

legalize

verb

le·​gal·​ize ˈlē-gə-ˌlīz 

legalized; legalizing

: to make legal

wanted to legalize gambling in their city

legalization

ˌlē-gə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

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