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
The sports betting industry rocketed to success after a 2018 Supreme Court decision effectively struck down a ban on sports gambling, paving the way for 38 states to legalize the practice.
—
Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
Even among states that have legalized sports betting, many—including Arizona, Louisiana and Massachusetts—require bettors to be 21, which is older than many college students.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 Oct. 2025
The 2018 Farm Bill, or the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, legalized industrial hemp at the federal level.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025
The lawsuit argues the new tax falls under the state's marijuana law, the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act (MRTMA), which was enacted after voters legalized recreational marijuana sales in 2018.
—Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legalize
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Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
Even among states that have legalized sports betting, many—including Arizona, Louisiana and Massachusetts—require bettors to be 21, which is older than many college students.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 Oct. 2025
The 2018 Farm Bill, or the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, legalized industrial hemp at the federal level.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025
The lawsuit argues the new tax falls under the state's marijuana law, the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act (MRTMA), which was enacted after voters legalized recreational marijuana sales in 2018.
—Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 8 Oct. 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 Oct. 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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