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

Synonyms of legality

• legitimacy

Examples of legality in a Sentence

the senator questioned the legality of the proposed surveillance operation

Recent Examples on the Web

Her colleague Zoe Masters questioned the legality of the move itself. — Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 5 Aug. 2026

The discussion came after the commission went into closed session to discuss the legalities of the site plan and data center. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Aug. 2026

Secretary of State Marco Rubio also defended the military strikes, saying at a Senate hearing in June that the Defense Department determined the strikes' legality and based its decisions on intelligence information. — Chris Boccia, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026

Images of thousands of migrants surging from Morocco into the Spanish city of Ceuta, in north Africa, have led European Union ministers to try to find new solutions, balancing legality with compassion. — Colette Davidson, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for legality

• banality
• bestiality
• brutality
• carnality
• centrality
• chirality
• duality
• fatality
• finality
• formality
• frugality
• lethality

Kids 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