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
The accountant, 33, said his gambling problems started after New York launched legalized mobile sports betting in January 2022.
—
Jay Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
As of 2026, 39 states and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico offer legalized sports betting, an activity that, with betting apps on phones, is easy to partake in.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 28 Apr. 2026
New York's booming cannabis market New York, New Jersey and Connecticut all legalized recreational pot in 2021.
—Ali Bauman, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
The president did not legalize psychedelics or weed, but his orders change the way these drugs will be regulated.
—O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for legalize
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Jay Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
As of 2026, 39 states and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico offer legalized sports betting, an activity that, with betting apps on phones, is easy to partake in.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 28 Apr. 2026
New York's booming cannabis market New York, New Jersey and Connecticut all legalized recreational pot in 2021.
—Ali Bauman, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
The president did not legalize psychedelics or weed, but his orders change the way these drugs will be regulated.
—O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 24 Apr. 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 3 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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