different between legalize vs legitimize

English

Alternative forms

• legalise (British)

Etymology

legal +? -ize

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?li???la?z/

Verb

legalize (third-person singular simple present legalizes, present participle legalizing, simple past and past participle legalized)

1. To make legal or permit under law. Either by decriminalising something that has been illegal or by specifically permitting it.

   There is a debate whether or not to legalise some of the softer drugs.

Antonyms

• criminalize
• illegalize

Derived terms

• legalization

Translations

Portuguese

Verb

legalize

1. first-person singular present subjunctive of legalizar
2. third-person singular present subjunctive of legalizar
3. first-person singular imperative of legalizar
4. third-person singular imperative of legalizar

English

Alternative forms

• legitimise

Etymology

legitimate +? -ize

Pronunciation

• (verb) IPA^(key): /l??d??t?ma?z/

Verb

legitimize (third-person singular simple present legitimizes, present participle legitimizing, simple past and past participle legitimized)

1. (transitive) To make legitimate.

Usage notes

• Forms of legitimize are about twice as common as forms of the verb legitimate in the US.
• Forms of legitimate are somewhat more common than the forms of the verbs legitimize and legitimise in the UK combined.

Synonyms

• legitimate (verb)

Derived terms

• delegitimize
• illegitimatize
• illegitimize

Translations