Legalization is the act of making something legal, however, there are other synonyms for this term that can also be used. Some of the synonyms for legalizes include authorize, sanction, permit, legitimize, and legalize. These words basically mean the same thing, but they have different nuances in terms of usage. Authorize often implies a formal approval or granting of permission, while sanction refers to an official permission or approval given by someone in authority. Permit is used more commonly to refer to granting access or the right to do something. Legitimize implies making something legal by conforming to established standards, and legalize simply means to make something legal according to the law.