legalize
C1Formal; official; journalistic; political.
Definition
Meaning
To make something that was previously illegal permissible under the law.
To formally approve, authorize, or sanction an activity, substance, or practice through legislative or official means, thereby removing its criminal or prohibited status. Can also imply bringing something into conformity with the law.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily transitive. Implies a change in legal status from illegal to legal. Often used in the context of social and political debate. The related noun is 'legalization'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'legalise' is standard in UK English, while 'legalize' is standard in US English. The meaning and usage are identical.
Connotations
The connotations are identical, heavily dependent on the specific issue (e.g., legalizing cannabis vs. legalizing a form of marriage). It often carries significant political and social weight.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties, with spikes in usage correlating with specific legislative debates (e.g., drug policy, assisted dying).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject: government/state/authority] + legalize + [Object: activity/substance]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this verb.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in industries directly affected by legalization (e.g., 'The state voted to legalize sports betting, opening a new market.')
Academic
Common in political science, sociology, law, and public policy texts discussing social change and legislation.
Everyday
Used in news discussions and debates about social issues ('They want to legalize recreational cannabis.').
Technical
Used in legal and legislative documents to describe the specific act of changing a law's provisions.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The government is under pressure to legalise assisted dying.
- Several states have already legalised the recreational use of cannabis.
- The new bill aims to legalise e-scooters on public roads.
American English
- The state legislature voted to legalize sports betting.
- Advocates continue to push Congress to legalize marijuana at the federal level.
- The city council moved to legalize accessory dwelling units to ease the housing crisis.
adverb
British English
- Not commonly used as an adverb. Use 'legally' instead.
American English
- Not commonly used as an adverb. Use 'legally' instead.
adjective
British English
- The newly legalised market for cannabis is strictly regulated.
- They celebrated the first legalised same-sex marriages in the country.
American English
- The legalized gambling industry has generated significant tax revenue.
- Access to legalized abortion services varies widely by state.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Some countries have legalized same-sex marriage.
- Is it a good idea to legalize all drugs?
- The referendum succeeded, and the government now plans to legalize cannabis for personal use.
- Critics argue that legalizing prostitution does not address the underlying issues of exploitation.
- The complex process of legalizing a previously banned substance involves drafting new regulations, establishing licensing frameworks, and setting up enforcement mechanisms.
- Philosophers debated whether the state should legalize acts that are considered immoral by a majority of its citizens.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'LEGAL-ize' – you are making it part of the LEGAL system.
Conceptual Metaphor
LAW IS A CONTAINER / BARRIER: To legalize is to move an activity from outside the container of lawful society to inside it.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as 'легализовать' in all contexts, as the Russian word can have a stronger connotation of formalizing something dubious or making it 'officially acceptable' in a shady sense. The English term is more neutral in its legislative meaning.
- Do not confuse with 'legitimize' (узаконить, придать законность), which is broader and can refer to social, not just legal, acceptance.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'legalize' for making something morally right (use 'legitimize').
- Confusing 'legalize' with 'decriminalize' (the latter often means removing criminal penalties but not fully making it legal/commercial).
- Incorrect: 'The government legalized to sell cannabis.' Correct: 'The government legalized the sale of cannabis.'
Practice
Quiz
What is the key difference between 'legalize' and 'decriminalize'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The noun form is 'legalization' (US) / 'legalisation' (UK).
No, it is not typical. 'Legalize' implies a change from an illegal to a legal status. For formalizing something new, 'authorize' or 'regulate' is more appropriate.
Yes, it belongs to formal and official registers, though it is widely understood and used in general news and discussion.
It is a transitive verb, so it requires a direct object: e.g., 'The government legalized [something].'
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