Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense legalizes, present participle legalizing, past tense, past participle legalizedregional note: in BRIT, also use legalise
verb
If something is legalized, a law is passed that makes it legal.
Divorce was legalized in 1981. [beVERB-ed]
...the decision of the Georgian government to legalise multi-party elections. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: permit, allow, approve, sanction More Synonyms of legalize
legalization (liːgəlaɪzeɪʃən)uncountable noun
...the legalization of same-sex marriage. [+ of]
legalize in British English
or legalise (ˈliːɡəˌlaɪz)
verb(transitive)
1.
to make lawful or legal
2.
to confirm or validate (something previously unlawful)
Derived forms
legalization (ˌlegaliˈzation) or legalisation (ˌlegaliˈsation)
noun
legalize in American English
(ˈligəlˌaɪz)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈlegalˌized or ˈlegalˌizing
to make legal or lawful
Derived forms
legalization (ˌlegaliˈzation)
noun
Examples of 'legalize' in a sentence
legalize
As soon as we can Rose and I'll get married and legalize our position.
Penn, John UNTO THE GRAVE (1989)
Only I'd be sure to put it in quotation marks, which would legalize my careful misattribution.
Gash, Jonathan THE TARTAN RINGERS (1989)
For years now, forces in his largest and most important market had lobbied to legalize his business there.
Clancy, Tom CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER (1989)
In other languages
legalize
British English: legalize VERB
If something is legalized, a law is passed that makes it legal.
Divorce was legalized after a referendum.
American English: legalize
Brazilian Portuguese: legalizar
Chinese: 使合法化
European Spanish: legalizar
French: légaliser
German: legalisieren
Italian: legalizzare
Japanese: 合法化する
Korean: 합법화되다
European Portuguese: legalizar
Latin American Spanish: legalizar
Chinese translation of 'legalize'
legalize
(ˈliːɡəlaɪz)
vt
使合法化 (shǐ héfǎhuà)
(verb)
Definition
to make lawful or legal
a new constitution that legalized divorce
Synonyms
permit
I was permitted to bring my camera into the concert.
Our constitution does not permit the sending of troops.
allow
Talking amongst yourselves is not allowed.
approve
MPs approved the bill by a majority of 97.
sanction
He may seem ready to sanction the use of force.
license
the council can license a U.S. company to produce the drug
legitimate
We want to legitimate this process by passing a law.
authorize
We are willing to authorize a police raid.
validate
Give the retailer your winning ticket to validate.
legitimize
These images serve to legitimize violence and cruelty.
make legal
decriminalize
Additional synonyms
in the sense of allow
Definition
to permit someone to do something
Talking amongst yourselves is not allowed.
Synonyms
permit,
approve,
enable,
sanction,
endure,
license,
brook,
endorse,
warrant,
tolerate,
put up with (informal),
authorize,
stand,
suffer,
bear
in the sense of approve
Definition
to authorize or agree to
MPs approved the bill by a majority of 97.
Synonyms
agree to,
second,
allow,
pass,
accept,
confirm,
recommend,
permit,
sanction,
advocate,
bless,
endorse,
uphold,
mandate,
authorize,
ratify,
go along with,
subscribe to,
consent to,
buy into (informal),
validate,
countenance,
rubber stamp,
accede to,
give the go-ahead to (informal),
give the green light to,
assent to,
concur in,
greenlight,
O.K. or okay (informal)
in the sense of authorize
Definition
to give official permission for
We are willing to authorize a police raid.
Synonyms
permit,
allow,
suffer,
grant,
confirm,
agree to,
approve,
sanction,
endure,
license,
endorse,
warrant,
tolerate,
ratify,
consent to,
countenance,
accredit,
vouch for,
give leave,
give the green light for,
give a blank cheque to,
give authority for
Synonyms of 'legalize'
legalize
Explore 'legalize' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of legitimate
Definition
to make, pronounce, or show to be legitimate
We want to legitimate this process by passing a law.
Synonyms
legitimize,
allow,
permit,
sanction,
authorize,
legalize,
give the green light to,
legitimatize,
pronounce lawful
in the sense of legitimize
Definition
to make legitimate
These images serve to legitimize violence and cruelty.
Synonyms
legalize,
permit,
sanction,
legitimate,
authorize,
give the green light to,
pronounce lawful
in the sense of license
Definition
to give permission to or for
the council can license a U.S. company to produce the drug
Synonyms
permit,
commission,
enable,
sanction,
allow,
entitle,
warrant,
authorize,
empower,
certify,
accredit,
give a blank cheque to
in the sense of sanction
Definition
to officially approve of or allow
He may seem ready to sanction the use of force.
Synonyms
permit,
back,
support,
allow,
approve,
entitle,
endorse,
authorize,
countenance,
vouch for,
lend your name to
in the sense of validate
Definition
to give legal force or official confirmation to
Give the retailer your winning ticket to validate.