The word "legalizes" is spelled with a "z" instead of an "s" because of the pronunciation of the final sound. The IPA phonetic transcription for "legalize" is /ˈliːɡəlaɪz/. The final sound is a voiced fricative /z/. When adding the suffix "-es" to form the third-person singular present tense, the final consonant sound changes to its voiceless counterpart /s/, resulting in the spelling of "legalizes". The IPA transcription for "legalizes" is /ˈliːɡəlaɪzɪz/.
Legalizes is the third person singular form of the verb "legalize," which refers to the process of making something lawful, permissible, or officially recognized by the legal system. When a law or regulation is enacted to legalize a previously prohibited or restricted activity, it means that the activity is now considered legal, allowing individuals to engage in it without fear of legal repercussions.
Legalization typically involves the modification or creation of laws, regulations, or policies to remove or reduce restrictions, penalties, or prohibitions on a specific action or behavior. The aim is to establish a legal framework that governs and regulates the activity in question, ensuring that it is carried out in a controlled and organized manner.
Legalization can be applied to a wide range of areas, including drugs, gambling, same-sex marriage, prostitution, euthanasia, or other activities and practices that were previously considered illegal or highly regulated. The process may involve various stages, such as legislative proposals, public debate, and deliberation, before the act is officially legalized.
The act of legalizing something is often driven by changing societal attitudes, advancements in scientific research, potential economic benefits, public opinion, or international norms and standards. However, it is important to note that the legalization of an activity does not necessarily imply that it is universally accepted or condoned, as it can still be subject to certain restrictions, regulations, or conditions.
The word legalizes is derived from the noun legalize, which is formed by adding the suffix -ize to the adjective legal. In turn, legal originates from the Latin word legalis, meaning of the law or pertaining to the law.