legally

adverb

le·​gal·​ly ˈlē-gə-lē 

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]

Synonyms of legally

• ethically
• fairly
• morally
• honorably
• fair
• cleanly
• clean

Examples of legally in a Sentence

that's not a move that can be made legally in chess

Recent Examples on the Web

An Alabama judge granted Dave's request in January 2012 and declared Natalee legally dead. —Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026

Since Nguirane hasn’t been able to work legally, his partner, Gueye, has been supporting the family financially. —Marta Campabadal Graus, NBC news, 30 May 2026

Therapists are bound by strict confidentiality obligations that make warning third parties ethically and legally complicated. —Anat Lior, Fortune, 30 May 2026

Presidents are not legally required to release their medical records and their medical care is always protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). —Rebecca Schneid, Time, 30 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for legally

• illegally