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legalize

[ lee-guh-lahyz ]
/ ˈli gəˌlaɪz /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR legalize ON THESAURUS.COM

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

to make legal; authorize.

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RELATED WORDS

right, honesty, authority, truth, law, integrity, acceptance, passing, ratification, legislation, establishment, charter, go-ahead, license, permission, patent, consent, grant, passport, privilege

Nearby words

  1. legalise,
  2. legalism,
  3. legalistic,
  4. legality,
  5. legalization,
  6. legally,
  7. leganés,
  8. legaspi,
  9. legaspi, miguel lópez de,
  10. legate
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. 2019

Examples from the Web for legalization

British Dictionary definitions for legalization

legalize

legalise

/ (ˈliːɡəˌlaɪz) /

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
Word Origin and History for legalization
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper