legal
/ˈliːɡ(ə)l
/adjective
1 [attributive] Relating to the law: the European legal system...
- This was no doubt the expensive legal advice it was given.
- Texas's public defence system which provides legal advice for those who can't afford it, is notorious for its abysmal standards.
- He declined to name them but said he advised the officials to seek legal advice and to speak with their insurers.
1.1Appointed or required by the law: a legal requirement...
- The other vehicles in its fleet do not meet the legal requirements and in effect should not be allowed on the road.
- Complaints requiring legal action will be forwarded to the Ministry of Justice.
- Oh sure, it's a legal requirement for someone such as me who is a contractor.
Synonyms
judicial, juridical, jurisdictive, judicatory, forensic
1.2 Law Recognized by common or statute law, as distinct from equity.26 Women were more likely to turn to equity courts than common law ones for legal resolution....
- It's crazy to argue that we're ever going to get significant legal change from common law courts.
- Certainly, the appellant does not bear any moral, as distinct from legal, responsibility for what occurred.
1.3Relating to theological legalism.The Torah comprises the first five books and contains a mixture of narratives and legal texts....
- Is is legal to work by healing on the Sabbath day?
2Permitted by law: he claimed that it had all been legal...
- In other words, the big killers in Scotland are the legal drugs - tobacco and alcohol.
- Alcohol is, of course, a legal and socially acceptable drug, even though it may actually be more harmful to the body than some of the illegal drugs.
- By far the most dangerous drugs are legal, with alcohol and tobacco, accounting for 150,000 deaths every year.
Synonyms
lawful, legitimate, licit, within the law, legalized, valid;
permissible, permitted, allowable, allowed, above board, admissible, acceptable;
authorized, sanctioned, warranted, licensed, official, enforceable, constitutional, statutory, statutable, ex cathedra, binding, bona fide, genuine;
right, proper, sound, just, fair, rightful, de jure, honest, upright
informal legit, kosher
3US Denoting a size of paper that measures 22 × 35.5 cm (8.5 × 14 inches): a yellow legal pad...
- When he saw something of note, he scrawled it on a folded up piece of yellow legal paper he kept in his coat pocket.
- Sudler handed Mr Cool a sheet of yellow legal paper and sauntered out.
- The deed was on posh legal paper.
Origin
Late Middle English (in the sense 'to do with Mosaic law'): from French, or from Latin legalis, from lex, leg- 'law'. Compare with loyal.
Rhymes
- feminine wile
- femininisation
- femininise
- femininism
- femininist
- femininitude
- femininity
- femininization
- femininize
- femininizing
- feminise
- feminism
- feminist
- feminity
- feminivorous
- feminization
- feminize
- feminoid
- feminophobia
- femme
- femme de chambre
- femme de menage
- femme de ménage
- femme du monde
- femme fatale