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 Minnesota House approved a pilot program that would legalize psychedelic mushrooms in the state for therapeutic use.
—
Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 8 May 2026
Lucas — a prominent backer of legalizing marijuana — has said the store sells legal hemp and CBD products.
—Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Alternatively, Florida could legalize more unlicensed work, much of which is already done under the supervision of licensed contractors.
—Maxwell Harden, Sun Sentinel, 3 May 2026
Critics of the petition process often compare the Missouri Constitution to a thick book that can be updated with few hurdles, such as the 39 pages added after voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2022.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for legalize
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Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 8 May 2026
Lucas — a prominent backer of legalizing marijuana — has said the store sells legal hemp and CBD products.
—Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Alternatively, Florida could legalize more unlicensed work, much of which is already done under the supervision of licensed contractors.
—Maxwell Harden, Sun Sentinel, 3 May 2026
Critics of the petition process often compare the Missouri Constitution to a thick book that can be updated with few hurdles, such as the 39 pages added after voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2022.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 3 May 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 11 May. 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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