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Legalizing: meaning, definitions and examples

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legalizing

 

[ ˈliːɡəlaɪzɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

law context

Legalizing refers to the process of making something that is currently illegal permissible by law. This typically involves the passage of legislation or regulations that formally recognize certain activities or substances as lawful. The term is often associated with drugs, gambling, and certain social practices that were previously prohibited.

Synonyms

authorizing, permitting, regulating

Examples of usage

  • The government is considering legalizing recreational marijuana.
  • Many activists are advocating for legalizing same-sex marriage.
  • The city council voted on legalizing street performers in public spaces.

Translations

Translations of the word "legalizing" in other languages:

🇵🇹 legalização

🇮🇳 कानूनीकरण

🇩🇪 Legalisierung

🇮🇩 legalisasi

🇺🇦 легалізація

🇵🇱 legalizacja

🇯🇵 合法化

🇫🇷 légalisation

🇪🇸 legalización

🇹🇷 yasallaştırma

🇰🇷 합법화

🇸🇦 تشريع

🇨🇿 legalizace

🇸🇰 legalizácia

🇨🇳 合法化

🇸🇮 legalizacija

🇮🇸 lögfesta

🇰🇿 заңдастыру

🇬🇪 ლეგალიზაცია

🇦🇿 qanuniləşdirmə

🇲🇽 legalización

Word origin

The term 'legalize' derives from the Latin word 'legalis', which means 'pertaining to the law'. The prefix 'leg-' comes from 'lex', meaning 'law'. The concept of legalizing activities has evolved, especially during periods of social change and reform, reflecting shifts in public perception regarding moral and ethical issues. In many societies, the legal status of certain actions or items has been contentious, leading to debates on the balance between legality, morality, and personal freedom. The modern usage of 'legalizing' has gained prominence in discussions about drug policy reform and civil rights movements since the late 20th century, as more communities and governments reconsider previous prohibitions.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #27,090, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.