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
Thirty states have legalized mobile sports betting, leaving 20 states still waiting for their turn.
—
Alex Sherman,contessa Brewer, CNBC, 27 Nov. 2025
Since federal legislation effectively legalized products infused with certain cannabis derivatives in 2018, the retail hemp market has grown into a $28 billion industry, CNBC reported.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 26 Nov. 2025
As cannabis products became legalized across the US in the mid-2010s, the industry started using the term in marketing to encourage friends to head to local dispensaries to get their fix, Sinali said.
—Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 26 Nov. 2025
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's pro-European coalition government's work on pushing through a bill legalizing same-sex unions has been held back by resistance from his conservative coalition partner.
—Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legalize
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Alex Sherman,contessa Brewer, CNBC, 27 Nov. 2025
Since federal legislation effectively legalized products infused with certain cannabis derivatives in 2018, the retail hemp market has grown into a $28 billion industry, CNBC reported.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 26 Nov. 2025
As cannabis products became legalized across the US in the mid-2010s, the industry started using the term in marketing to encourage friends to head to local dispensaries to get their fix, Sinali said.
—Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 26 Nov. 2025
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's pro-European coalition government's work on pushing through a bill legalizing same-sex unions has been held back by resistance from his conservative coalition partner.
—Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 25 Nov. 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 30 Nov. 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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