legal age

noun

: the age at which a person enters into full adult legal rights and responsibilities (as of making contracts or wills)

Examples of legal age in a Sentence

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.
Additionally, given Natalia’s legal age, the statute of limitations prevents litigation of any offenses before 2014. Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025 Later that year, members of Parliament voted to establish fifteen as the legal age of consent in France. Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025 In 2012, the Barnetts petitioned an Indiana court for a legal age change; the petition was granted, changing Natalia’s legal age from eight to 22 years old. Fortesa Latifi, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2025 In 2012, the parents successfully had the courts change Natalia’s legal age from eight to 22. Lisa Respers France, CNN, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for legal age

Word History

First Known Use

1658, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of legal age was in 1658

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Legal age.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legal%20age. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

Medical Definition

legal age

noun
le·​gal age ˈlē-gəl- How to pronounce legal age (audio)
: the age at which a person enters into full adult legal rights and responsibilities (as of making contracts or wills)

Legal Definition

legal age

noun
: an age at which a person becomes entitled under the law to engage in a particular activity or becomes responsible for particular acts
the legal age for drinking in this state
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!