legality
noun
le·gal·i·ty
li-ˈga-lə-tē 
plural legalities
1
: attachment to or observance of law
2
: the quality or state of being legal : lawfulness
3
legalities plural
: obligations imposed by law
Examples of legality in a Sentence
the senator questioned the legality of the proposed surveillance operation
Recent Examples on the Web
While not issuing a quick rejection, key conservative justices seemed skeptical of the administration’s arguments for its legality.
—
Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
But there’s a difference between accepting the legality of gambling and actively promoting it, whether that’s through opening sportsbooks at stadiums like Wrigley Field or saturating game broadcasts with gambling advertisements.
—Michael Delayo, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
The clause was intended to overrule the infamous Dred Scott decision of 1857, which – among other things – denied the legality of Black citizenship in America.
—Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 1 Apr. 2026
The directive, however, hasn't yet become effective since its legality was challenged soon after it was signed by the president and it's been blocked by lower courts.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for legality
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.
Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
But there’s a difference between accepting the legality of gambling and actively promoting it, whether that’s through opening sportsbooks at stadiums like Wrigley Field or saturating game broadcasts with gambling advertisements.
—Michael Delayo, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
The clause was intended to overrule the infamous Dred Scott decision of 1857, which – among other things – denied the legality of Black citizenship in America.
—Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 1 Apr. 2026
The directive, however, hasn't yet become effective since its legality was challenged soon after it was signed by the president and it's been blocked by lower courts.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for legality
Cite this Entry
“Legality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legality. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
legality
noun
le·gal·i·ty
li-ˈgal-ət-ē
plural legalities
1
: the quality or state of being legal : lawfulness
2
: something that is required by law
Legal Definition
legality
noun
le·gal·i·ty
li-ˈga-lə-tē
plural legalities
1
: attachment to or observance of law
2
: the quality or state of being legal : lawfulness
3
plural
: obligations imposed by law
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
