legalization
|le-gal-i-za-tion|
🇺🇸
/ˌliːɡələˈzeɪʃən/
🇬🇧
/ˌliːɡ(ə)ləˈzeɪʃən/
making lawful
Etymology
'legalization' originates from English formation: the verb 'legalize' + the noun-forming suffix '-ation'. 'legalize' itself was formed in modern English from French 'légaliser' or directly from Medieval Latin influences, where 'legal-'/ 'legalis' related to law.
'legalization' developed from the verb 'legalize' (19th century English), which derived from French 'légaliser' and ultimately from Latin 'legalis' (pertaining to law) formed from the root 'lex, legis' meaning 'law'. Over time the suffix '-ation' created the noun meaning 'the process or result of making legal.'
Initially related to words meaning 'pertaining to law' (Latin 'legalis'), the sense shifted to the action 'to make lawful' (verb 'legalize') and then to the noun meaning 'the process or result of making lawful' now expressed by 'legalization'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act or process of making something lawful or permitted by law.
The legalization of same-sex marriage was a major milestone.
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Noun 2
the formal process of giving legal force or official recognition to a document, status, or act (e.g., notarization or authentication).
The legalization of the document required an apostille and a consulate stamp.
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Noun 3
the process of removing legal penalties for an activity that was previously illegal (often used in policy debates, e.g., drugs or gambling).
There are ongoing debates about the legalization of marijuana in many countries.
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Last updated: 2025/11/08 06:41