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.
Homeowners may wonder why another large group — the many city and county residents who love Balboa Park — arguably benefited the most from the leverage Aguirre and Severson had on the city in their lawsuit exposing its shabby and legally dubious trash practices. U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2026 According to People, the actor was still legally married to Patricia Arquette at the time; Presley, meanwhile, was engaged to singer-songwriter John Oszajca. Emma Banks, InStyle, 23 May 2026 Luckily for consumers, brands like Toyota, Ford, and Chevrolet make production versions of the vehicles used in NASCAR races that can be legally modified with aftermarket parts for maximum performance. Charles Singh, USA Today, 23 May 2026 Unlike communications with a licensed attorney, which are legally safeguarded, inputs to AI systems may be stored, processed, used to improve the AI model, subpoenaed by law enforcement and discoverable by third parties. Robert Scott, Forbes.com, 22 May 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

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Cite this Entry

“Legally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legally. Accessed 27 May. 2026.

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