legal

le·gal | \ ˈlē-gəl

How to pronounce legal (audio)

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Definition of legal

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : of or relating to law She has many legal problems.

2a : deriving authority from or founded on law : de jure a legal government

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 : statutory the legal test of mental capacity — K. C. Masteller

3 : conforming to or permitted by law or established rules The referee said it was a legal play. Fishing in this lake is legal.

4 : recognized or made effective by a court of law as distinguished from a court of equity

5 : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of the profession of law or of one of its members a bottle … that some legal friend had sent him— J. G. Cozzens

6 : created by the constructions of the law A legal fiction is something assumed in law to be a fact regardless of the truth of that assumption.

legal

Definition of legal (Entry 2 of 2)

: one that conforms to rules or the law

Other Words from legal Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about legal

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Choose the Right Synonym for legal

Adjective

lawful, legal, legitimate, licit mean being in accordance with law. lawful may apply to conformity with law of any sort (such as natural, divine, common, or canon). the lawful sovereign legal applies to what is sanctioned by law or in conformity with the law, especially as it is written or administered by the courts. legal residents of the state legitimate may apply to a legal right or status but also, in extended use, to a right or status supported by tradition, custom, or accepted standards. a perfectly legitimate question about taxes licit applies to a strict conformity to the provisions of the law and applies especially to what is regulated by law. the licit use of drugs by doctors

Examples of legal in a Sentence

Adjective She has a lot of legal problems. Do you know your legal rights? The amount of alcohol in his blood exceeded the legal limit. What you did was not legal. “Is it legal to fish in this river?” “Yes, it's perfectly legal.” The referee said it was a legal play.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Now, Racine is facing a legal challenge that has led to the suspension of its coronavirus rules, at least for the time being. — Patrick Marley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Racine lawsuit is a test case for how much power local officials have to control the spread of coronavirus," 1 July 2020 Have thoughts about the candidates or Arizona's legal system? — Lauren Castle, The Arizona Republic, "Maricopa County attorney candidate accused of misconduct in decade-old case," 1 July 2020 Power to change the legal system and allow guardianship. — Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY, "'He really needs help': Family seeks help for Dodgers outfielder Andrew Toles, who is homeless and hospitalized," 30 June 2020 However, the fair board itself did not take a position on the issue, saying doing so could invite a legal challenge. — cleveland, "Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine changes course, looks at county by county coronavirus approach: Capitol Letter," 29 June 2020 The group took possession again prior to 2011 when the monuments became the target of a legal challenge. — Robert Gearty, Fox News, "Montana man charged with toppling Ten Commandments monument," 28 June 2020 But the establishment has struggled to balance Beijing’s desire for control with residents’ demands to preserve the autonomy that has shielded them from the mainland’s feared security services and opaque, often harsh legal system. — Keith Bradsher, BostonGlobe.com, "In seizing control, China sidelines its allies in Hong Kong," 27 June 2020 In Scotland, which has a different legal system from the rest of the United Kingdom, there is already an option for a simplified divorce after a year’s separation. — Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, "The Conservative Case for Liberalizing Divorce," 26 June 2020 The legal challenge to Hawaii's mandate was brought by Nevada and California residents who own property in Hawaii and contend the self-quarantine requirement violates a constitutional right to interstate travel. — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, "Justice Department backs challengers to Hawaii's self-quarantine requirement," 24 June 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun As a result, guns are banned in the area, even by those who have legal concealed carry permits. — Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner, "Gun groups: Virginia Democrats want violence to disrupt, ‘smear’ gun control protest," 16 Jan. 2020 Many of Florida’s marijuana dispensaries were not ready when Gov. Ron DeSantis made smokable medical marijuana legal in March. — Marcia Heroux Pounds, sun-sentinel.com, "Finally, you’ll be able to buy marijuana the way you want it," 2 Dec. 2019 At the very end of the show, rapper Rico Nasty strutted out with a should-be-legal rolled piece of paper between her fingers. — Nicole Phelps, Vogue, "Our Very Favorite Moments From the Fall 2019 Collections," 12 Mar. 2019 American Media agreed to give Ms. McDougal back the rights to her story as part of an April legal settlement, but the company insisted that the Men’s Journal cover go forward as planned. — WSJ, "Ex-Playmate Alleging Trump Affair to Get Men’s Journal Cover," 27 June 2018 With recreational or medical marijuana legal in 29 states and the nation’s capital, the pot industry employed 121,000 people in the U.S. last year. — David Goldstein And Anita Chabria, sacbee, "Pot businesses are on a hiring spree. Here’s how much the jobs pay," 8 June 2018 An extravagant legal row this week suggests there may be little time left for complacency. — The Economist, "Donald Trump’s powers are not quite as vast as his lawyers claim," 7 June 2018 Barrett has asked Columbia to refund her spring term rent and tuition, and originally turned to Equip for Equality, a disability legal and advocacy organization, for help. — Deanna Isaacs, Chicago Reader, "How many emotional support animals is too many?," 8 Apr. 2018 At the very end of the show, rapper Rico Nasty strutted out with a should-be-legal rolled piece of paper between her fingers. — Nicole Phelps, Vogue, "Our Very Favorite Moments From the Fall 2019 Collections," 12 Mar. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'legal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

7 Jul 2020

Cite this Entry

“Legal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legal. Accessed 9 Jul. 2020.

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More Definitions for legal

legal

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of legal

: of or relating to the law

: based on the law

: allowed by the law or by the rules in a game

See the full definition for legal in the English Language Learners Dictionary

legal

le·gal | \ ˈlē-gəl

\

Kids Definition of legal

1 : of or relating to law or lawyers legal books

2 : based on law a legal right

3 : allowed by law or rules legal conduct a legal play in a game

legal

le·gal | \ ˈlē-gəl

\

Legal Definition of legal

1 : of or relating to law or the processes of law a legal question take legal action

2a : deriving authority from or founded on law a legal tariff rate a legal government

b : fulfilling the requirements of law a legal voter

c : having a status derived from law : recognized as such by law a legal certainty

d : created by operation of especially statutory law legal incompetence a legal presumption — compare conventional sense 1, judicial sense 2

e : established by law the legal test for mental capacity

3 : conforming to or permitted by law : lawful a referendum to make gambling legal

4 : recognized or made effective under principles of law as distinguished from principles of equity : deriving from or existing or valid in law as distinguished from equity — see also equity — compare equitable

5a : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of the profession of law or one of its members a corporate legal department the legal community

b : of or relating to the study of law continuing legal education

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