Decriminalized is a term that is often used when referring to the reduction of severity of a criminal offense. Synonyms for this word include legalized, decriminalization, and sanctioning. Legalized refers to the action of making an activity or substance lawful, while decriminalization means reducing the penalty to a non-criminal offense. Sanctioning refers to authorizing or approving an activity that was previously illegal. Other synonyms for decriminalized include depenalization, exoneration, and pardon. All these terms are used to indicate a change in the law allowing for reduced penalties or outright acceptance of previously illegal activities. Regardless of the term used, decriminalization brings social change and reform.