legally

adverb

le·​gal·​ly ˈlē-gə-lē How to pronounce legally (audio)
Synonyms of legallynext
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]

Examples of legally in a Sentence

that's not a move that can be made legally in chess
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.
The government actually deported more than six hundred and seventy-five thousand people, but getting just to that number involved broad and violent sweeps and the expulsion of people who were in the country legally, actions that led to widespread protests. Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026 In September 2025, the City Council voted to explore whether Los Angeles could withdraw all legally allowable homelessness funding from LAHSA and instead contract with the county’s new homelessness department. Teresa Liu, Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026 There are people old enough to legally rent a car who weren't alive the last time the Cowboys were even in an NFC Championship Game. Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026 According to the outlet, the legally binding agreement had previously been overlooked when the script had been vetted and approved. Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for legally

Word History

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of legally was in 1581

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Cite this Entry

“Legally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legally. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.

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