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

Virginia officials react A forceful advocate of legalizing marijuana, Lucas partnered in opening the shop, The Cannabis Outlet, in 2021. — Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

The indictment, unsealed Thursday, alleges that Lucas and her relatives set up a business to sell marijuana before the substance was legalized for recreational sales in the commonwealth. — Washington Post Staff, Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2026

The ultra-Orthodox have traditionally been exempt from military service, but in 2024, Israel's Supreme Court ruled that in the absence of any law legalizing the exemption, the military must start drafting them. — Dov Lieber, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026

Uthmeier chaired Keep Florida Clean, a political committee that fought against legalizing recreational marijuana. — Justin Garcia, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 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