Word
legalization
Phoneticsle·gal·iza·tion
/ˌɫiɡəɫəˈzeɪʃən/
Definition
n. the act of making something legal so that it is no longer against the law. This usually happens when a government changes a rule about things like medicine or certain activities.
n. the process of removing a legal prohibition against a previously illegal act or substance. Often involves the creation of a regulatory framework to manage the newly permitted activity.
Examples
“The legalization of the new medicine helped many patients.”
“Public debate intensified as the government considered the legalization of sports betting to increase tax revenue.”
“Proponents of legalization argue that bringing the industry into a regulated market reduces criminal activity and ensures higher safety standards for consumers.”
Examples
simple
“The legalization of the new medicine helped many patients.”
contextual
“Public debate intensified as the government considered the legalization of sports betting to increase tax revenue.”
complex
“Proponents of legalization argue that bringing the industry into a regulated market reduces criminal activity and ensures higher safety standards for consumers.”
Usage
Often followed by the preposition 'of' to specify the activity or substance being made legal.
Etymology
From legalize + -ation. Piecewise doublet of loyalization.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/legalization