legal

[lee-guhl]

adjective

1. permitted by law; lawful.

   Such acts are not legal.

2. of or relating to law; connected with the law or its administration.

   the legal profession.

3. appointed, established, or authorized by law; deriving authority from law.

   Synonyms: sanctioned, legitimate, licit

4. recognized by law rather than by equity.

5. of, relating to, or characteristic of the profession of law or of lawyers.

   a legal mind.

6. Theology.

   1. of or relating to the Mosaic Law.

   2. of or relating to the doctrine that salvation is gained by good works rather than through free grace.

noun

1. a person who acts in a legal manner or with legal authority.

2. Usually legals a foreigner who has entered or resides in a country legally.

3. a person whose status is protected by law.

4. a fish or game animal, within specified size or weight limitations, that the law allows to be caught and kept during an appropriate season.

5. a foreigner who conducts espionage against a host country while working there in a legitimate capacity, often in the diplomatic service.

6. legals, authorized investments that may be made by fiduciaries, as savings banks or trustees.

legal

/ ˈliːɡəl /

adjective

1. established by or founded upon law; lawful

2. of or relating to law

3. recognized, enforceable, or having a remedy at law rather than in equity

4. relating to or characteristic of the profession of law

Other Word Forms

• legally adverb
• postlegal adjective
• prelegal adjective
• pseudolegal adjective
• quasi-legal adjective
• quasi-legally adverb
• unlegal adjective
• unlegally adverb
• unlegalness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of legal¹

First recorded in 1490–1500; from Latin lēgālis “of the law,” equivalent to lēg- (stem of lēx ) “law” + -ālis adjective suffix; -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of legal¹

C16: from Latin lēgālis, from lēx law

Example Sentences

Reform UK said the bill would create a legal duty for the home secretary to remove illegal migrants, and ban anyone who had been deported from re-entering the UK for life.

From BBC

Legally designating a gang or cartel as a terrorist entity ostensibly gives the president greater legal cover to conduct lethal strikes on targets.

From Los Angeles Times

Immigrants, most of whom had been following the rules to adjust, maintain or gain legal status, were arrested and detained.

From Los Angeles Times

Real estate experts say claiming primary residences on different mortgages at the same time is often legal and rarely prosecuted.

From Salon

In response to the ruling, a DHS spokesperson told the BBC the scheme had been "abused, exploited, and politicised as a de facto amnesty program", while indicating it would assess its legal options.

From BBC

Related Words

• constitutional 
• contractual 
• fair 
• juridical 
• lawful 
• legitimate 
• proper 
• statutory 
• valid