legalize

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

Also spelled legalise

US /ˈliː.ɡəl.aɪz/ UK /ˈliː.ɡəl.aɪz/ See IPA manual

Freq #35384

Meanings

1

verb
to make something lawful or officially permitted, especially something that was previously illegal

Parliament voted to legalize independent trade unions.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to make something lawful or... authorize permitmake lawful

Opposites

criminalizeillegalizeoutlaw ban

Word family

Forms legalized

Derived forms legalizedlegalizinglegalization

Related forms legal lawful legislationdecriminalize

Etymology

Formed in English from legal + -ize, literally 'to make legal.' Legal came through Old French from Latin legalis ('relating to law'), from lex ('law').

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

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