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
This explosion has followed a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down a law that had prohibited most states from legalizing sports betting.
—
Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2025
In legalizing hemp, Congress intended to allow the sale of nonintoxicating products like CBD, but inadvertently created a loophole that also allows the sale of products that get users high.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2025
After Christianity was legalized in the fourth century, the faith expanded rapidly beyond Rome’s old imperial boundaries.
—Joanne M. Pierce, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2025
The big picture: The Trump administration appears to favor policies legalizing cannabis in the U.S., including rescheduling it at the federal level, NPR reported in November.
—Linh Ta, Axios, 14 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for legalize 
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Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2025
In legalizing hemp, Congress intended to allow the sale of nonintoxicating products like CBD, but inadvertently created a loophole that also allows the sale of products that get users high.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2025
After Christianity was legalized in the fourth century, the faith expanded rapidly beyond Rome’s old imperial boundaries.
—Joanne M. Pierce, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2025
The big picture: The Trump administration appears to favor policies legalizing cannabis in the U.S., including rescheduling it at the federal level, NPR reported in November.
—Linh Ta, Axios, 14 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for legalize
Articles Related to legalize
Dictionary Entries Near legalize
Cite this Entry
“Legalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legalize. Accessed 30 Jan. 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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