legalize

[lee-guh-lahyz]

See more synonyms for legalize on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), le·gal·ized, le·gal·iz·ing.

to make legal; authorize.

Also especially British, le·gal·ise.

Origin of legalize

First recorded in 1710–20; legal + -ize

Related formsle·gal·i·za·tion, nounun·le·gal·ized, adjective

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.
‘Only God’ Can Stop Gay Marriage
Tim Mak
January 6, 2015
Legalization in the first two states in America to do so has been highly criticized.
The Real Election Winner: Weed
Abby Haglage
November 5, 2014
Sabet says the Florida ballot measure was a Trojan Horse for legalization and voters were seeing it for what it was.
Ganja Vs. Geezers in the Sunshine State
Ben Jacobs
November 3, 2014
One other big movement behind the push for legalization is, ironically, feminism.
Why It's Time to Legalize Prostitution
Cathy Reisenwitz
August 15, 2014
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 Vain
Henryk Sienkiewicz
It is to the historical jurist exactly the same thing as the legalization of the Ulster tenant right.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 15, Slice 5
Various
An exactly parallel case is the legalization in England of that customary tenant-right known as copyhold.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 15, Slice 5
Various
Legalization of abortion for social and economic reasons was also put forward.
Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the Various Aspects of the Problem of Abortion in New Zealand
David G. McMillan

British Dictionary definitions for legalization

legalize

legalise

verb (tr)

to make lawful or legal
to confirm or validate (something previously unlawful)

Derived Formslegalization or legalisation, noun

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

legalize

Origin of legalize

Related Words

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.

Historical Examples

Legalization would lessen the charm of forbidden fruit, would decrease sweetness already tasted, more than it would promise new.

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

Word Origin and History for legalization

n.

legalize

v.

legalize

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}legalize

Related Words

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.

Historical Examples

Legalization would lessen the charm of forbidden fruit, would decrease sweetness already tasted, more than it would promise new.

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

Word Origin and History for legalization

n.

legalize

v.

Origin of legalize