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legal

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legal¹

  • /ˈliː.ɡəl/ UK
  • /ˈli.ɡəl/ US

Rhymes with -iːɡəl

Where it comes from

Learned borrowing from Latin lēgālis (“legal”), from lēx (“law”). Doublet of loyal and leal.

adjective more legal · most legal

  1. Relating to the law or to lawyers. legal profession
  2. Having its basis in the law. legal precedent
  3. Being established, permitted, required or prescribed by law. legal motion

    Similar: lawful, legitimate, licit, de jure, legal, rightful · Opposite: banned, contraband, disallowed, forbidden, illegal, outlawed, unlawful, black-market, back-alley

  4. Following the rules or syntax of a system, such as a game or a programming language. If you have no legal move, but are not in check the game is a draw.
  5. offensive, slang, sometimes Above the age of consent or the legal drinking age. "Is she even legal? Shame on you, diddlin' a girl too young to buy beer. You being a church deacon and all." If looks could kill, Dale would be dead.

    Opposite: underage

  6. US, colloquial Permitting the use and/or sale of cannabis; in which cannabis is lawful. Whether you're interested in opening a retail marijuana store in a legal state or if you're interested in investing in someone or a company, which is operating in a legal state, there are[…]
  7. relating to formally codified law, as opposed to equity.

    Opposite: equitable

noun legals

  1. informal, uncountable The legal department of a company or organization. Legal wants this in writing.
  2. countable A spy who is attached to, and ostensibly employed by, an embassy, military outpost, etc.
  3. US, countable, informal One who immigrated lawfully.

    Opposite: illegal, undocumented

  4. Canada, US, uncountable Of paper or document layouts, measuring 8+¹⁄₂ × 14 inches (216 × 356 mm).
  5. Philippines, countable, uncountable Of paper or document layouts, measuring 8+¹⁄₂ × 13 inches (216 × 330 mm).

    Similar: long bond paper, government legal, foolscap

Legal²

  • /lɪˈɡæl/

Where it comes from

Named in honour of Bishop Émile-Joseph Legal.

proper noun

  1. A town in Alberta, Canada.

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: jural, juristic, judicial, statutory, sub judice, lawful, legitimate, eligible, valid, sound, ineligible, licit, ratified, sanctioned, jurisprudence, law

Translations

Every language

adj relating to the law or to lawyers

Españollegal
한국어법적 beopjeok
日本語法的な hōteki na
中文法律的 fǎlǜ de
हिन्दीविधिक vidhik
Kiswahilikisheria
Portuguêsjurídico
Françaisjuridique
Deutschjuristisch, rechtlich
Italianogiuridico
Ελληνικάνομικός nomikós
Românăjuridic
Русскийюриди́ческий juridíčeskij, правово́й pravovój
Tiếng Việtluật
العربيةقَانُونِيّ qānūniyy
עבריתמשפטי mishpati

adj having its basis in the law

Españollegal
한국어법률 beomnyul
日本語法律の hōritsu no
中文法定的 fǎdìng de
हिन्दीविधिक vidhik
Portuguêslegal
Deutschjuristisch, rechtlich
Italianolegale
Ελληνικάνομικός nomikós
Românălegal, juridic
Русскийправоме́рный pravomérnyj, зако́нный zakónnyj
العربيةقَانُونِيّ qānūniyy
עבריתמשפטי mishpati

adj allowed or prescribed by law

Españollegal
한국어합법적인 hapbeopjeogin
日本語合法 gōhō, 法に則った hō ni nottotta
中文合法 héfǎ
हिन्दीविधिक vidhik
Kiswahilihalali
Portuguêslegal
Françaislégal
Deutschlegal
Italianolegale
Ελληνικάνόμιμος nómimos
Românălegal
Русскийзако́нный zakónnyj, лега́льный legálʹnyj
Tiếng Việthợp pháp
العربيةقَانُونِيّ qānūniyy
עבריתחוקי ḥuki

Talk about this word

Cite this
MLA

"legal." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/legal. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

legal. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/legal

Chicago

"legal." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/legal.

BibTeX
@misc{legal_2026,
  title = {legal},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/legal},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}