lawful
Americanadjective
-
allowed or permitted by law; not contrary to law.
a lawful enterprise.
- Synonyms:
- legal
-
recognized or sanctioned by law; legitimate.
a lawful marriage; a lawful heir.
- Synonyms:
- licit
-
appointed or recognized by law; legally qualified.
a lawful king.
-
acting or living according to the law; law-abiding.
a lawful man; a lawful community.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lawful
First recorded in 1250–1300, lawful is from the Middle English word laghful. See law 1, -ful
Explanation
When something's legal, or the rules allow it, you can call it lawful. It's lawful to plant a tree in your yard, but it's not lawful to dig up a tree in the city park. Things that are lawful are allowed or permitted, like driving after you've gotten your driver's license or baking your neighbor a cake. Neither of these things is prohibited by law, so they're lawful. You have a lawful right to build a cabin on land you own, and it's also lawful to put up a fence. The adjective comes from law, which has an Old English root, lagu, "ordinance, rule, regulation, or a district governed by them."
Vocabulary lists containing lawful
A Just Cause: Synonyms for "Fair"
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Ten Words related to Citizenship
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You Are Correct! Synonyms for "Right"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Among them was Ana Domínguez, 60, a native of El Salvador living in Long Beach as a lawful permanent resident.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026
The 28 defendants are lawful permanent residents with legal status in the country but are not citizens permitted to vote.
From Salon ● Oct. 19, 2026
It is also alleged he made "a fundamental error" in giving equal weight to a lawful parade and an unlawful protest.
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026
These laws were passed to ensure that foreign countries couldn’t pressure American companies to give up lawful trade with third countries.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
The world, that understandable and lawful world, was slipping away.
From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
