legalization

/,li:gəlai'zeiʃn/

Thân thiện

The city council voted for the legalization of small businesses in residential areas.

Definition

Noun: 1. The act or process of making something legal: The official authorization or sanctioning of an activity, substance, or practice that was previously prohibited or not recognized by law. 2. The state of being made lawful: The condition resulting from a government or legislative body removing legal restrictions on something.

Usage

• Legalization is used to describe a formal, often legislative, change in legal status. It is commonly discussed in contexts of social policy, government reform, and criminal justice.
• It is an uncountable noun. You discuss the legalization of something, not "a legalization."
• The verb form is to legalize.

Examples

• The legalization of same-sex marriage was a landmark decision for the country.
• Advocates argue that the legalization of certain drugs could reduce crime and generate tax revenue.
• The debate over the legalization of physician-assisted dying continues in many legislatures.
• After years of prohibition, the legalization of the substance created a new regulated industry.

Advanced Usage

• Path to legalization: The process or series of steps leading to something becoming legal.
  • The state outlined a clear path to legalization for recreational cannabis.
• Decriminalization vs. Legalization: These are distinct concepts. Decriminalization typically means removing criminal penalties (often replacing them with civil fines), while legalization means making the activity fully lawful and subject to regulation.

Variants and Related Words

• Legalize (verb): To make something legal.
  • The government voted to legalize the use of medicinal marijuana.
• Legal (adjective): Permitted by law.
• Legislation (noun): Laws, considered collectively; the process of making laws.

Synonyms

• Authorization
• Legitimation
• Permissibility (state of being permitted)
• Sanctioning (official permission or approval)

Antonyms

• Criminalization
• Prohibition
• Banning
• Illegality

Related Phrases

• Campaign for legalization: An organized effort to make something legal.
  • She joined the campaign for the legalization of sports betting.
• Push for legalization: Active advocacy or effort to achieve legal status.
  • There is a strong push for the legalization of this medical treatment.

Học thuật

Noun

1. the act of making lawful

Từ đồng nghĩa

• legalisation
• legitimation