Main Entry:

¹le·gal

Pronunciation:

\ˈlē-gəl\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Anglo-French, from Latin legalis, from leg-, lex law

Date:

circa 1500

1: of or relating to law2 a: deriving authority from or founded on law : de jure b: having a formal status derived from law often without a basis in actual fact : titular <a corporation is a legal but not a real person> c: established by law ; especially : statutory3: conforming to or permitted by law or established rules4: recognized or made effective by a court of law as distinguished from a court of equity5: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of the profession of law or of one of its members6: created by the constructions of the law <a legal fiction>

synonyms see lawful

— le·gal·ly \-gə-lē\ adverb