legal

1 of 2

adjective

le·​gal ˈlē-gəl 

1

: of or relating to law

She has many legal problems.

2

a

: deriving authority from or founded on law : de jure

a legal government

b

: having a formal status derived from law often without a basis in actual fact : titular

a corporation is a legal but not a real person

c

: established by law

especially : statutory

the legal test of mental capacity

—K. C. Masteller

3

: conforming to or permitted by law or established rules

The referee said it was a legal play.

Fishing in this lake is legal.

4

: recognized or made effective by a court of law as distinguished from a court of equity

5

: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of the profession of law or of one of its members

a bottle … that some legal friend had sent him

—J. G. Cozzens

6

: created by the constructions of the law

A legal fiction is something assumed in law to be a fact regardless of the truth of that assumption.

legal

2 of 2

noun

: one that conforms to rules or the law

Synonyms

Adjective

• lawful
• legit [slang]
• legitimate
• licit

Choose the Right Synonym for legal

lawful, legal, legitimate, licit mean being in accordance with law.

lawful may apply to conformity with law of any sort (such as natural, divine, common, or canon).

the lawful sovereign

legal applies to what is sanctioned by law or in conformity with the law, especially as it is written or administered by the courts.

legal residents of the state

legitimate may apply to a legal right or status but also, in extended use, to a right or status supported by tradition, custom, or accepted standards.

a perfectly legitimate question about taxes

licit applies to a strict conformity to the provisions of the law and applies especially to what is regulated by law.

the licit use of drugs by doctors

Examples of legal in a Sentence

Adjective

She has a lot of legal problems.

Do you know your legal rights?

The amount of alcohol in his blood exceeded the legal limit.

What you did was not legal.

“Is it legal to fish in this river?” “Yes, it's perfectly legal.”

The referee said it was a legal play.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Finding a place to operate — especially in the expensive real estate market of L.A. — always has been a challenge for charters, a factor that led advocates to push successfully for the legal right to claim public school space at an affordable rent. —Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024

Some research suggests the potential of more legal consequences for children is not helpful. —Meagan Flynn, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Anglo-French, from Latin legalis, from leg-, lex law

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1923, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing legal

• legal action
• legal aid
• legal eagle
• legal age
• legal holiday
• legal pad
• under no legal obligation
• take legal action
• legal proceedings
• legal reserve
• legal tender
• legal remedy
• taking legal action

Kids Definition

legal

adjective

le·​gal

ˈlē-gəl

1

: of or relating to law or lawyers

2

: based on law

a legal right

3

: permitted by law or established rules

legally

-gə-lē

adverb

Legal Definition

legal

adjective

le·​gal ˈlē-gəl 

1

: of or relating to law or the processes of law

a legal question

take legal action

2

a

: deriving authority from or founded on law

a legal tariff rate

a legal government

b

: fulfilling the requirements of law

a legal voter

c

: having a status derived from law : recognized as such by law

a legal certainty

d

: created by operation of especially statutory law

legal incompetence

a legal presumption

compare conventional sense 1, judicial sense 2

e

: established by law

the legal test for mental capacity

3

: conforming to or permitted by law : lawful

a referendum to make gambling legal

4

: recognized or made effective under principles of law as distinguished from principles of equity : deriving from or existing or valid in law as distinguished from equity see also equity compare equitable

5

a

: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of the profession of law or one of its members

a corporate legal department

the legal community

b

: of or relating to the study of law

continuing legal education

legally adverb

Etymology

Adjective

Latin legalis, from leg- lex law