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
In Oregon, where psilocybin therapy was legalized in 2023, a third of new clinics have already closed owing to high operating expenses and treatment costs.
—
Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
And several aldermen who have moved to preemptively ban the machines from their wards have cited issues like gambling addiction and a spike in burglaries targeting the machines in other parts of the state where they are already legalized.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
Each of the 38 states that have legalized sports betting earned D’s or F’s.
—Suzanne King, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026
No one involved—not Alito; nor the five justices who joined him; nor the legislators in 36 states who would legalize sports betting for their constituents; nor the league commissioners, who would rush into partnerships with online sportsbooks—seemed acquainted with Chesterton’s fence.
—Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for legalize
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Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
And several aldermen who have moved to preemptively ban the machines from their wards have cited issues like gambling addiction and a spike in burglaries targeting the machines in other parts of the state where they are already legalized.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
Each of the 38 states that have legalized sports betting earned D’s or F’s.
—Suzanne King, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026
No one involved—not Alito; nor the five justices who joined him; nor the legislators in 36 states who would legalize sports betting for their constituents; nor the league commissioners, who would rush into partnerships with online sportsbooks—seemed acquainted with Chesterton’s fence.
—Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 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 17 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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