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
On top of Utah and South Carolina, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Idaho have legalized firing squads.
—
Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 15 Nov. 2025
The veto came as a campaign to legalize recreational marijuana, which was heavily opposed by the governor, was picking up the pace.
—Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 14 Nov. 2025
In 2018, a loophole in the federal Farm Bill legalized the sale of intoxicating hemp products nationwide.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 13 Nov. 2025
Hemp, a derivative of the cannabis plant, was legalized in the 2018 Farm Bill for industrial uses like rope, textiles and seed.
—Luke Fountain, CNBC, 13 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legalize
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Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 15 Nov. 2025
The veto came as a campaign to legalize recreational marijuana, which was heavily opposed by the governor, was picking up the pace.
—Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 14 Nov. 2025
In 2018, a loophole in the federal Farm Bill legalized the sale of intoxicating hemp products nationwide.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 13 Nov. 2025
Hemp, a derivative of the cannabis plant, was legalized in the 2018 Farm Bill for industrial uses like rope, textiles and seed.
—Luke Fountain, CNBC, 13 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 16 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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