Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

Thesaurus

legal

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of legal

1 permitted by law
  • Is it legal to build a campfire in the park?
Synonyms of legal

lawful, legit [slang], legitimate, licit
Words Related to legal

allowable, authorized, noncriminal, permissible

justifiable, warrantable

constitutional

de jure, regulation, statutory

good, innocent, just, proper, right
Near Antonyms of legal

bad, corrupt, evil, immoral, iniquitous, reprobate, sinful, wicked, wrong

banned, criminal, forbidden, guilty, impermissible, outlawed, prohibited, unauthorized, unjust

under-the-counter, under-the-table

nonconstitutional, unconstitutional
Antonyms of legal

illegal, illegitimate, illicit, lawless, unlawful, wrongful
2 following or according to the rules
  • The referee declared it a legal play.
Synonyms of legal

clean, fair, sportsmanlike, sportsmanly
Words Related to legal

just, law-abiding

ethical, moral, principled, scrupulous

honorable, irreproachable, unimpeachable
Near Antonyms of legal

immoral, unethical, unprincipled, unrighteous, unscrupulous, vicious, wrong
Antonyms of legal

dirty, foul, nasty, unfair, unsportsmanlike

Synonym Discussion of 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

Learn More about legal

  1. See words that rhyme with legal Dictionary: Definition of legal Spanish Central: Translation of legal Nglish: Translation of legal for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of legal for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up legal? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games