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
Widespread legalized online sports betting made what he’s accused of possible.
—
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
But a recent study by the University of California San Diego Qualcomm Institute and School of Medicine has revealed what has been the impact of legalizing sports betting on Americans—showing a dramatic increase in sports betting and gambling addiction help-seeking (23 percent) since 2018.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Kentucky legalized medical marijuana starting in 2025, with products expected on shelves soon.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Oct. 2025
In Marquette University Law School polling earlier this year, two-thirds of the 873 people surveyed said the drug should be legalized.
—Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legalize
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David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
But a recent study by the University of California San Diego Qualcomm Institute and School of Medicine has revealed what has been the impact of legalizing sports betting on Americans—showing a dramatic increase in sports betting and gambling addiction help-seeking (23 percent) since 2018.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Kentucky legalized medical marijuana starting in 2025, with products expected on shelves soon.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Oct. 2025
In Marquette University Law School polling earlier this year, two-thirds of the 873 people surveyed said the drug should be legalized.
—Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 22 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 26 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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