v.
Pronunciation: ' l ē -g ə - ˌ l ī z
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form: -ized ; -iz · ing
Date: circa 1716
: to make legal especially : to give legal validity or sanction to
– le · gal · i · za · tion \ ˌ l ē -g ə -l ə - ' z ā -sh ə n \ noun
– le · gal · iz · er \ ' l ē -g ə - ˌ l ī -z ə r \ noun