legalize

Other spellings

• (UK) legalise

Word parts

legal + -ize

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /ˈliːɡəlaɪz/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form legalize

Third-person singular legalizes

Past tense legalized

Past participle legalized

Present participle legalizing

1. (US) (law) If something that was against the law is legalized, it becomes allowed under law.
   • Antonym: criminalize

   There has been a recent push to legalize marijuana in the United States.

Related words

• legal
• legalization