verb
legalize
LEE-guh-lyz
verb
1
To make something officially permitted by law.
"Several states have voted to legalize recreational marijuana."
"The government moved to legalize same-sex marriage in 2015."
How to Use Legalize
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo turn something that was banned into something officially allowed.
UK vs US
British English often spells this "legalise," while American English prefers "legalize."
Common pairings
legalize marijuana
legalize gambling
Word Forms
legalized past tense, legalizes singular
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Several states have voted to _____ recreational marijuana.
Etymology
From legal plus -ize, "to make."