legally

adverb

le·​gal·​ly ˈlē-gə-lē How to pronounce legally (audio)
Synonyms of legallynext
1
: in a legal manner : in accordance with the law
a transfer that was not done legally
a drug that can now be legally bought and sold in many countries
2
: from the point of view of law
Legally, she had no claim to the estate.
They were not legally obligated to provide assistance.
a person who is legally blind [=who is blind according to the legal definition of blindness]
legally drunk [=drunk according to the legal definition of drunkenness]

Examples of legally in a Sentence

that's not a move that can be made legally in chess
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Lauretti, the town’s mayor as well as the property owner, and B-Wizz, a developer, contend the board based its decision on arguments from neighbors that aren’t legally relevant under 8-30g. Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 11 Jan. 2026 Other Venezuelans entered legally at land ports of entry after scheduling interviews with border officers. Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026 Local police are not legally required to detain or transfer someone based solely on the existence of an administrative warrant, legal experts including Pham and University of Texas immigration law professor Elissa Steglich told the Statesman. Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 10 Jan. 2026 Some of Ross’s actions could be legally justified, Ramsey noted. Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for legally

Word History

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of legally was in 1581

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Legally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legally. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.

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