legalize
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legalize
- /ˈliːɡəlaɪz/
Where it comes from
From legal + -ize. Piecewise doublet of loyalize.
verb legalizes · legalizing · legalized · legalise
-
To make legal or permit under law. Either by decriminalising something that has been illegal or by specifically permitting it.
There is a debate whether or not to legalize some of the softer drugs.
Similar: legitimate
Opposite: criminalize, illegalize
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: decriminalize, legitimate, legitimatize, legitimize, rectify, enact, regulate, ratify, authenticate, regularize, regularise, formalize, codify, legalise, legitimise, relegalise
verb
Opposite: criminalize, illegalize
Translations
Every language
verb make legal
| Español | legalizar |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 합법화(合法化)하다 hapbeophwahada |
| 日本語 | 合法化する gōhōka-suru |
| 中文 | 合法化 héfǎhuà |
| Português | legalizar |
| Français | dépénaliser, autoriser, légaliser |
| Deutsch | legalisieren |
| Italiano | legalizzare |
| Русский | легализова́ть legalizovátʹ, легализи́ровать legalizírovatʹ, узако́нивать uzakónivatʹ, узако́нить uzakónitʹ |
| Tiếng Việt | hợp pháp hoá, luật hoá |
| العربية | قَنَّنَ qannana |
Talk about this word "legalize." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/legalize. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. legalize. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/legalize "legalize." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/legalize.Cite this
@misc{legalize_2026,
title = {legalize},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/legalize},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
