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Definitions

legal

[lee-guhl] / ˈli gəl /
ADJECTIVE
allowable, permissible
Synonyms
STRONGEST
constitutional contractual fair juridical lawful legitimate proper statutory valid
WEAK
acknowledged allowed authorized card-carrying chartered clean condign decreed due enforceable enforced enjoined forensic granted innocent judged judicial just justifiable justified legalized legit licit on the level on the up and up ordained passed precedented prescribed protected right rightful sanctioned sound straight sure-enough warranted within the law
Antonyms
STRONGEST
illegal illegitimate invalid unacceptable unlawful
WEAK
illicit wrong

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.

Takahashi says legal action has "a deterrent effect" on online trolls, many of whom he says are in their teens or early 20s.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

Japan has been relatively late to the party, according to lawyer Shun Takahashi, who leads a seven-strong legal group dedicated to protecting athletes from online abuse.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

They said they were now urgently seeking clarification from the government and many were taking legal advice, adding that the main focus was supporting students.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

The case will now proceed alongside the government’s appeal of the California court ruling, creating legal uncertainty for companies that work with both Anthropic and the government.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

It made marriage a whim of the master rather than a legal right.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis