What does legalized mean?
Legalized means that something has been made lawful, authorized, or accepted under the law. The word is especially common in reporting on previously restricted practices such as cannabis, gambling, abortion, and same-sex marriage. As a past-tense or past-participle verb, it identifies an act of legal change: a government may legalize a practice, or a court decision may effectively do so. As an adjective, it describes the now-permitted result, as in “legalized cannabis.” The term can also have a broader social meaning, suggesting that something once taboo has become officially tolerated or widely accepted. Because legalization often involves political debate and formal legislation, the word frequently appears in news, public policy, law, and social-affairs writing. It should not be confused with legal, which describes something lawful rather than the process of making it lawful.
To make something legal or bring it within the law; also, to make it officially or socially acceptable.
"Parliament voted to legalize the sale of alcohol in the territory."
Often used when a law, court ruling, or official policy changes the legal status of an activity, substance, or status.
Having been made legal, authorized, or officially accepted.
"Stores began selling legalized cannabis after the new regulations took effect."
Common in noun phrases such as “legalized cannabis” and “legalized immigration.”
What was once forbidden can become familiar: “legalized” marks the moment a practice crosses the line from prohibited to permitted.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does legalized come from?
Legalized was formed in the 19th century from legal, from Latin legalis, meaning “pertaining to law,” together with the productive suffix -ize, meaning “to make” or “to bring into a specified condition.” Related English forms include legal, legalize, legality, and legalization. The word is especially associated with the 19th-century political use of describing the repeal of Prohibition in the United States, although its general sense is not restricted to that historical example.
Related word forms
How legalized is actually used
The word is common in British and American English. In legal and political contexts it often implies a formal change in the law, whereas in broader contexts it can describe social acceptance without necessarily involving legislation.
Easily confused with legalized
Legalized describes the act of making something lawful, whereas legal means that something already conforms to or is permitted by law.