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
Minnesota has legalized marijuana.
—
Esme Murphy, CBS News, 19 May 2026
Her decision comes five years after the state legalized marijuana possession.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 19 May 2026
The problem of companies substituting hemp for marijuana dates to 2018, when Congress legalized hemp, a close cousin of marijuana that has only trace amounts of THC, the psychoactive compound that makes people high.
—Christopher Osher, ProPublica, 15 May 2026
Sports betting platforms are donating $10 million to support incumbents and candidates from both parties who support legalizing the industry in the state.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for legalize
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Esme Murphy, CBS News, 19 May 2026
Her decision comes five years after the state legalized marijuana possession.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 19 May 2026
The problem of companies substituting hemp for marijuana dates to 2018, when Congress legalized hemp, a close cousin of marijuana that has only trace amounts of THC, the psychoactive compound that makes people high.
—Christopher Osher, ProPublica, 15 May 2026
Sports betting platforms are donating $10 million to support incumbents and candidates from both parties who support legalizing the industry in the state.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for legalize
Cite this Entry
“Legalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legalize. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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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