“Legalize” or “Legalise”—What's the difference?

Usage by country

Where each spelling is used

Of the 12 countries below, 7 prefer “legalize” and 4 prefer “legalise”. Usage levels are out of 100; the more common spelling in each country is in bold.

Usage level out of 100 (if available).
Country	legalize	legalise	Preference
United States	99	1	“legalize”
United Kingdom	29	71	“legalise”
India	58	42	“legalize”
Philippines	97	3	“legalize”
Canada	92	8	“legalize”
Australia	26	74	“legalise”
Liberia	100	0	“legalize”
Ireland	44	56	“legalise”
New Zealand	36	64	“legalise”
Jamaica	70	30	“legalize”
Trinidad & Tobago	72	28	“legalize”
Guyana	0	0	Not enough data

Usage

Examples in context

Real sentences for each spelling. Hover an example to copy it.

“legalize”

…the church, even attempting to legalize the marriage of priests.
…overwhelmingly approved an ordinance to legalize the possession and private use…
In 2001 Legalize left Moscow and in Prague…
Attempt to legalize the movement – 1903–1906
…California with signs that said "Legalize LA: Deport Immigrants".
…to petition German officials to legalize her claim to sole ownership.
…of Trailer Park Boys: Don't Legalize It.
…skilful and metaphorical manner of Legalize.
…the campaign was whether to legalize sport on Sundays, with Controller…
…an adoptive placement, and then legalize the adoption.

“legalise”

…campaigner, who successfully campaigned to legalise abortion in Victoria.
…an organisation who tried to legalise the then pirate radio scene.
…the UK Parliament to directly legalise same-sex marriage in the region,…
…to Northern Ireland, which would legalise same-sex marriage three months after…
Two EPs 'Legalise Murder' and 'Murder He Did'…
WIP 6323 - Peter Tosh: "Legalise It" (not released)
…, an organisation seeking to legalise assisted suicide for terminally ill
…also a double referendum on legalise slot machines at racing tracks…
…Supreme Court, asking it to legalise same-sex marriage.
…abstained in the vote to legalise political parties in June 1976.

Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license.

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