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
When did Indiana legalize alcohol sales on Sunday?
—
Hannah Hudnall, IndyStar, 21 Nov. 2025
The bill would legalize giving terminally ill adult patients who have six months or less to live the option to have a doctor prescribe them a mixture of a lethal medication.
—CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025
Jack Cardetti, spokesman for the Missouri cannabis industry trade group MoCannTrade, said Missouri cities were quick to place restrictive hours of operation on businesses after the state legalized medical marijuana in 2018.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 18 Nov. 2025
It was legalized in 1997, but Beijing has sought to curb public exposure of LGBT organizations, art, and activism.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legalize
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Hannah Hudnall, IndyStar, 21 Nov. 2025
The bill would legalize giving terminally ill adult patients who have six months or less to live the option to have a doctor prescribe them a mixture of a lethal medication.
—CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025
Jack Cardetti, spokesman for the Missouri cannabis industry trade group MoCannTrade, said Missouri cities were quick to place restrictive hours of operation on businesses after the state legalized medical marijuana in 2018.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 18 Nov. 2025
It was legalized in 1997, but Beijing has sought to curb public exposure of LGBT organizations, art, and activism.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 17 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 28 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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