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 New York Fed studied the impact online sports betting could have on Americans' financial health — particularly delinquency rates — by comparing betting activity and consumer credit outcomes in states that legalized it with those that have not.
—
Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
What To Know The legislation, sponsored by Republican Senator Joey Hensley in the Senate and Representative Kip Capley in the House, does not legalize the capture of wild raccoons or eliminate state oversight.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Oceanside legalized medical marijuana in 2018 and since then has gradually expanded its licensing program.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
The definition stems from the 2018 federal Farm Bill, which legalized hemp production nationwide.
—Dallas Morning News, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for legalize
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Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
What To Know The legislation, sponsored by Republican Senator Joey Hensley in the Senate and Representative Kip Capley in the House, does not legalize the capture of wild raccoons or eliminate state oversight.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Oceanside legalized medical marijuana in 2018 and since then has gradually expanded its licensing program.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
The definition stems from the 2018 federal Farm Bill, which legalized hemp production nationwide.
—Dallas Morning News, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for legalize
Cite this Entry
“Legalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legalize. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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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