Words / B2

LEEG-uh-lyz/ˈliːɡəlaɪz/

To legalise is to make something allowed by law (British -ise): legalise a substance; legalise a document. Decriminalise is weaker (no longer a crime, still unregulated). The citizenship paper asks who can legalise it. Mix-up: legal is the adjective (already in the dictionary); legalize is US spelling. Do not write legalise for “get a lawyer”.

Meaning

To make something allowed by law (British spelling).

Examples

• “The citizenship paper asks who can legalise a previously banned substance.”
• “The embassy will not legalise an unsigned certificate, which is the paperwork sense.”

Good to know

legalise + noun; legalisation. US: legalize. Weaker: decriminalise. Adjective: legal. Trap: “legalise a lawyer”. Citizenship and news. Make lawful, not hire counsel.

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