Definition of legalnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word legal different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of legal are lawful, legitimate, and licit. While all these words mean "being in accordance with law," 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

When can lawful be used instead of legal?

The meanings of lawful and legal largely overlap; however, lawful may apply to conformity with law of any sort (such as natural, divine, common, or canon).

the lawful sovereign

Where would legitimate be a reasonable alternative to legal?

In some situations, the words legitimate and legal are roughly equivalent. However, 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

When would licit be a good substitute for legal?

The words licit and legal can be used in similar contexts, but 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

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of legal ActBlue’s lawyers, however, later warned in internal memos obtained by the New York Times that the CEO’s statements to Congress were inaccurate and could pose legal risks. Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 10 June 2026 The Supreme Judicial Court upheld Brookline’s policy as legal, but legality isn’t the same as soundness. Alex Weatherall, Boston Herald, 10 June 2026 In many cases, creditors can identify and seek funds from savings accounts through the same legal process used to access checking account funds. Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 10 June 2026 The legal petition comes after her younger sister Shiloh Jolie, 20, legally changed her last name from Jolie-Pitt to Jolie. Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for legal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legal
Adjective
  • The more teams that are legitimate playoff contenders each year in that conference, the better.
    Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 June 2026
  • The Australia-Singapore and EU-Singapore digital economy agreements restrict unjustified data localization requirements, while maintaining protections to address legitimate security concerns.
    Leonard Lim, Fortune, 10 June 2026
Adjective
  • Suzuki is a young beatnik of Greenwich Village, a moral, sharp-witted kid wanting a place where children can be taken seriously, free to manage their own affairs.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
  • Set during World War II, the drama examines the mechanisms of collaboration under the Vichy regime through the lens of a man whose ambition and moral weakness lead him to become complicit in the persecution and deportation of Jews.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 9 June 2026
Adjective
  • Doudna, who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020 with Emmanuelle Charpentier for this pioneering work, has been a prominent voice not only for its vast potential but also for its responsible and ethical use.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 11 June 2026
  • Some workplace experts argue that with more businesses adopting AI tools, soft skills such as empathy, critical thinking and ethical decision-making are worth cultivating to help employees become indispensable.
    Cathy Bussewitz, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
Adjective
  • Tortuga sits on 1,300 feet of private beach with clean white sand and turquoise water.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026
  • For groups like the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), there are strict rules of etiquette for displaying the stars and stripes, including flying it aloft and free — except in emergencies — and never lying down; keeping it clean and off the ground, and not drawing or marking on it.
    Darleene Powells, Boston Herald, 10 June 2026
Adjective
  • To be fair, abducted 9-year-old Rainy is pretty cute, with solemn eyebrows and a conscience that continually puts her in peril.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
  • In its decision to reverse the murder conviction, the court argued that the murder and assault charges should not have been tried together and that doing so prevented Montgomery from the right to a fair trial.
    Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 11 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Legal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legal. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.

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