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
Not every state has legalized cannabis, and those that have may regulate it very differently.
—
Brian Mann, NPR, 3 Feb. 2025
Context: There's been a steady drumbeat to legalize sports betting across the country since New Jersey did it in 2018.
—Sami Sparber, Axios, 31 Jan. 2025
True change means not only legalizing cannabis but also ensuring that those most impacted by the War on Drugs are supported.
—Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2025
Washington and Colorado were the first states to legalize recreational marijuana use, and California was the first state to legalize medical cannabis in 1996.
—Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for legalize 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Brian Mann, NPR, 3 Feb. 2025
Context: There's been a steady drumbeat to legalize sports betting across the country since New Jersey did it in 2018.
—Sami Sparber, Axios, 31 Jan. 2025
True change means not only legalizing cannabis but also ensuring that those most impacted by the War on Drugs are supported.
—Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2025
Washington and Colorado were the first states to legalize recreational marijuana use, and California was the first state to legalize medical cannabis in 1996.
—Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 23 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 11 Feb. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share