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
Amendment 3 would have legalized recreational marijuana.
—
Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 12 Dec. 2025
Recreational marijuana was legalized in Illinois in 2020, but is subject to different and stricter regulations.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025
The federal change responded to a gray market created by the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized intoxicating hemp with few limits.
—Jessie Balmert, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Dec. 2025
Other questions remain because they are not explicitly addressed by the text of the Arizona statute that was generated when recreational cannabis was legalized.
—Nate Trela, AZCentral.com, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legalize
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Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 12 Dec. 2025
Recreational marijuana was legalized in Illinois in 2020, but is subject to different and stricter regulations.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025
The federal change responded to a gray market created by the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized intoxicating hemp with few limits.
—Jessie Balmert, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Dec. 2025
Other questions remain because they are not explicitly addressed by the text of the Arizona statute that was generated when recreational cannabis was legalized.
—Nate Trela, AZCentral.com, 8 Dec. 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 18 Dec. 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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