1. the act or process of making something legal that was previously illegal

Examples

• The legalization of marijuana has been debated in many states.
• Activists campaigned for the legalization of same-sex marriage.
• The legalization process took several years to complete.
• Many countries are considering the legalization of certain drugs.
• The legalization of gambling brought new revenue to the state.
• Immigration reform includes discussions about legalization for undocumented workers.