legal

UK: /ˈliːg^əl/ US: /ˈligəl/ ,(lē′gəl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

le•gal /ˈligəl/   adj. 

1. permitted by law;
   lawful:
   Theft is not legal.
2. of or relating to law:
   [before a noun] the legal system.
3. of, relating to, or befitting the profession of law or lawyers:
   [before a noun] She has a sharp legal mind.

n. [countable]

4. a person who acts in a legal manner.

le•gal•ly, adv. See -leg-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

le•gal  (lē′gəl), adj. 

1. permitted by law;
   lawful:
   Such acts are not legal.
2. of or pertaining to law;
   connected with the law or its administration:
   the legal profession.
3. appointed, established, or authorized by law;
   deriving authority from law.
4. recognized by law rather than by equity.
5. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of the profession of law or of lawyers:
   a legal mind.
6. Religion [Theol.]
   • of or pertaining to the Mosaic Law.
   • of or pertaining to the doctrine that salvation is gained by good works rather than through free grace.

n. 

7. a person who acts in a legal manner or with legal authority.
8. an alien who has entered a country legally.
9. a person whose status is protected by law.
10. Sport a fish or game animal, within specified size or weight limitations, that the law allows to be caught and kept during an appropriate season.
11. a foreigner who conducts espionage against a host country while working there in a legitimate capacity, often in the diplomatic service.
12. legals, authorized investments that may be made by fiduciaries, as savings banks or trustees.

• Latin lēgālis of the law, equivalent. to lēg- (stem of lēx) law + -ālis -al¹
• 1490–1500

le′gal•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 3. licit, legitimate, sanctioned.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

legal / ˈliːɡ^əl/ 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

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin lēgālis, from lēx law

ˈlegally adverb