legalize

American

[lee-guh-lahyz] / ˈli gəˌlaɪz /

especially British, legalise

verb (used with object)

legalized, legalizing

to make legal; authorize.

legalize British

/ ˈliːɡəˌlaɪz /

verb

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

"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

Other Word Forms

legalization noun
unlegalized adjective

Etymology

Origin of legalize

First recorded in 1710–20; legal + -ize

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In this case, it has come from states that have legalized sports betting, such as Nevada, and are worried that the prediction markets could cannibalize their legal offerings and evade their gambling regulations.

From Los Angeles Times

The prosecution says their motive was Franco's opposition to plans that would have "legalized" land illegally seized by militias that control large parts of the city.

From Barron's

Dozens of states have legalized sports-betting in some form after a Supreme Court decision in 2018 that struck down a federal ban.

From The Wall Street Journal

So did the Securities and Exchange Commission decision legalizing bitcoin ETFs in 2024.

From The Wall Street Journal

Rimada photographs the felines for his social media followers and last year launched a petition to legalize bodega cats, which drew nearly 14,000 signatures.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023