legalize
[lee-guh-lahyz]
- to make legal; authorize.
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Also especially British, le·gal·ise.
Origin of legalize
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for legalization
Contemporary Examples
The month of May will see an Irish referendum on the legalization of same-sex marriage.
Legalization in the first two states in America to do so has been highly criticized.
Sabet says the Florida ballot measure was a Trojan Horse for legalization and voters were seeing it for what it was.
One other big movement behind the push for legalization is, ironically, feminism.
In 1996, only 27 percent of Americans supported the legalization of same-sex marriage.
Justice Kennedy Opened the Door to Same-Sex Marriage, Will He Walk Through Next?Geoffrey R. Stone
August 3, 2014
Historical Examples
Legalization would lessen the charm of forbidden fruit, would decrease sweetness already tasted, more than it would promise new.
In VainHenryk Sienkiewicz
It is to the historical jurist exactly the same thing as the legalization of the Ulster tenant right.
An exactly parallel case is the legalization in England of that customary tenant-right known as copyhold.
Legalization of abortion for social and economic reasons was also put forward.
legalize
legalise
- to make lawful or legal
- to confirm or validate (something previously unlawful)
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for legalization
n.
1805, noun of action from legalize.
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legalize
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper