Definitions

lawful

[law-fuhl] / ˈlɔ fəl /

ADJECTIVE

allowable, legitimate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

authorized constitutional justifiable legal permissible proper rightful statutory valid

WEAK

bona fide canonical card-carrying commanded condign decreed due enacted enforced enjoined established innocent judged judicial jural juridical jurisprudent just kosher legalized legislated legit legitimatized licit mandated of right official on the level on the up and up ordained ordered passed protected ruled vested warrantable warranted

Antonyms

STRONGEST

illegal illegitimate incorrect unacceptable wrong

WEAK

illicit prohibited taboo unlawful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Legal disputes involving student protesters, deportation proceedings and expanded scrutiny of lawful residents have increasingly merged immigration enforcement with broader debates over political speech, due process and constitutional protections.

From Salon • May 24, 2026

The company had refused to agree to the Defense Department’s demand to allow its technology to be deployed for “all lawful uses.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

It began when two married men asked Judge Marlon Weiss to issue a pre-birth order acknowledging them as the lawful parents of a child who was about to be born via surrogacy.

From Slate • May 13, 2026

Mr Justice Johnson told the jurors that if the defendants believed that they had been morally justified in smashing up Elbit's property, that would not be a "lawful excuse".

From BBC • May 12, 2026

Those with lawful permanent residency applications pending, and those who haven't filed any paperwork, are still considered "undocumented."

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi

Vocabulary lists containing lawful

A Just Cause: Synonyms for "Fair"

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Ten Words related to Citizenship

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You Are Correct! Synonyms for "Right"

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