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View synonyms for lawful

lawful

[ law-fuhl ]

adjective

  1. allowed or permitted by law; not contrary to law:

    a lawful enterprise.

    Synonyms: legal

  2. recognized or sanctioned by law; legitimate:

    a lawful marriage; a lawful heir.

    Synonyms: licit

  3. appointed or recognized by law; legally qualified:

    a lawful king.

  4. acting or living according to the law; law-abiding:

    a lawful man; a lawful community.



lawful

/ ˈlɔːfʊl /

adjective

  1. allowed, recognized, or sanctioned by law; legal
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Derived Forms

  • ˈlawfulness, noun
  • ˈlawfully, adverb
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Other Words From

  • lawful·ly adverb
  • lawful·ness noun
  • pre·lawful adjective
  • pre·lawful·ly adverb
  • pre·lawful·ness noun
  • quasi-lawful adjective
  • quasi-lawful·ly adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of lawful1

First recorded in 1250–1300, lawful is from the Middle English word laghful. See law 1, -ful
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Example Sentences

At issue was whether the charge was a lawful fee or an illegal tax requiring two-thirds voter approval.

While the May explosions were lawful under a state government decision, Rio has been accused of failing to act on information that later showed the heritage sites had greater significance than first understood.

From Fortune

So by that nature you are serving the country by working for people that are duly elected and carrying out all their lawful orders that they have.

From Ozy

In an age of ubiquitous technology and strong encryption, such “lawful hacking” has emerged as a powerful tool for public safety when law enforcement needs access to data.

In May, the Supreme Court referred a judgment on a petition calling for the restoration of full service to a committee of government-appointed officials—in essence asking the government to decide whether or not its own actions were lawful.

“Before the end of the year I will take whatever lawful action I can take,” he said.

It also makes the lawful carry of a firearm difficult during warmer months in Texas.

The search-incident-to arrest power stopped merely keeping police safe when making lawful arrests.

Because, they argued, any activity that is “unlawful” under federal law could not by definition be “lawful” under state law.

“All lawful modes of expressing opposition ... had been closed by legislation,” he told the court.

To give him a party name, he became an anti-clerical, strictly in a political and lawful sense.

What other channel, then, was open to the country through which to insist upon the recovery of its lawful rights?

Were it not lawful declarations concerning the manner of doing it would not be made.

It is the duty of a subject to swear allegiance to his lawful sovereign; at least he must stand prepared to do so when required.

It is dutiful for all who have the whole word of God, to use every lawful means in their power to make others know it.

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