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

The hemp-loophole cannabinoids Delta-8 THC, delta-10, THC-O, and HHC exist because the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp by defining it around delta-9 THC content. — Jesse M. Pines, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

The government has legalized past settlements under Israeli law and approved new ones in areas that are supposed to be under Palestinian civil control. — Greg Dixon, NPR, 5 Aug. 2026

In 2022, Propositions 26 and 27 both aimed to legalize sports-betting in the state but disagreed on how to implement it and how the revenue stemming from the new industry would be used. — Grace Hase, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026

Canada legalized medical aid in dying (MAID) outright in 2016. — Sai Rajagopal, STAT, 4 Aug. 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