legalize

verb
UK: /ˈliːɡəlaɪz/
US: /ˈliːɡəlaɪz/

  1. To make something legal which was previously illegal.

    1. They want to legalize marijuana for medical use.
    2. Many people believe the government should legalize certain drugs to reduce crime rates.

  2. To officially allow something by law.

    1. The country decided to legalize same-sex marriage.
    2. The new law will legalize the sale of alcohol on Sundays after a long debate.

Synonyms

authorize permit allow legitimate
legalize transitive-verb

  1. To give legal authorization to (something).

    1. Can the government legalize this?
    2. The act aims to legalize and regulate the industry, bringing in more revenue.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "legalize" in English means: To make something legal which was previously illegal., To officially allow something by law..

The phonetic transcription of "legalize" is /ˈliːɡəlaɪz/ in British English and /ˈliːɡəlaɪz/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "legalize": authorize, permit, allow, legitimate.

Example usage of "legalize": "They want to legalize marijuana for medical use.". More examples on the page.