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
The Red Flag Law legalized the use of what’s formally called Extreme Risk Protection orders (ERPOs).
—
Mary Murphy, Twin Cities, 19 Sep. 2025
With more states legalizing adult-use cannabis and new businesses entering the market, brands are racing to define themselves and stand out.
—Iris Dorbian, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Three other states − Idaho, Mississippi, and Oklahoma − have legalized firing squads as an execution method.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
Both medical and recreational use are legal in Colorado, and New Mexico passed a law this year that legalizes certain medical uses.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legalize
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Mary Murphy, Twin Cities, 19 Sep. 2025
With more states legalizing adult-use cannabis and new businesses entering the market, brands are racing to define themselves and stand out.
—Iris Dorbian, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Three other states − Idaho, Mississippi, and Oklahoma − have legalized firing squads as an execution method.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
Both medical and recreational use are legal in Colorado, and New Mexico passed a law this year that legalizes certain medical uses.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 11 Sep. 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 21 Sep. 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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