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

Other Word Forms

• lawfulness noun
• lawfully adverb
• prelawful adjective
• prelawfully adverb
• prelawfulness noun
• quasi-lawful adjective
• quasi-lawfully adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of lawful¹

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

Example Sentences

While speaking with reporters in June, Schiff said Huerta was “exercising his lawful right to be present and observe these immigration raids.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Mr Bush denied 30 counts of preventing lawful and decent burials and one charge of stealing money from charity collection boxes, during Wednesday's hearing at Hull Crown Court.

Read more on BBC

Responding to the charges, Bolton said he would defend his "lawful conduct".

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The White House responded to the suit by calling the fee lawful and a "necessary, initial, incremental step towards necessary reforms" to the programme.

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But - by 10 votes to two - committee members decided there was no lawful reason to refuse it.

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Related Words

• authorized 
• constitutional 
• justifiable 
• legal 
• permissible 
• proper 
• rightful 
• statutory 
• valid