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

“All we have ever sought is a clear judicial determination on whether these practices are lawful under state law. That is not an unreasonable ask — and tribes should not be denied their day in court.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The National Secular Society said the judgment was "an important victory for freedom of expression", describing Mr Coskun's protest as a "lawful act of political dissent".

Read more on BBC

A White House spokeswoman said earlier Sunday that the president “exercised his lawful authority to protect federal assets and personnel in Portland following violent riots and attacks on law enforcement.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She said the president has exercised his lawful authority to protect federal officers and assets.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Is the deployment of troops to American cities a lawful or necessary move?

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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