lawful

[ law-fuhl ]

/ ˈlɔ fəl /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: lawful / lawfully / lawfulness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

allowed or permitted by law; not contrary to law: a lawful enterprise.

recognized or sanctioned by law; legitimate: a lawful marriage; a lawful heir.

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR lawful

1 legal.

2 licit.

See synonyms for lawful on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of lawful

First recorded in 1250–1300, lawful is from the Middle English word laghful.See law¹, -ful

OTHER WORDS FROM lawful

law·ful·ly, adverblaw·ful·ness, nounpre·law·ful, adjectivepre·law·ful·ly, adverb

pre·law·ful·ness, nounquasi-lawful, adjectivequa·si-law·ful·ly, adverb

How to use lawful in a sentence

Read the full storyJenny Cudd was arrested and charged in federal court with entering a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and violent entry or disorderly conduct.
Here are some of the people charged since a mob breached the Capitol|Washington Post Staff|January 15, 2021|Washington Post
The Anne Arundel County police Department also supports all lawful expressions of freedom of speech and assembly.
Maryland police officer suspended with pay as investigators look into possible involvement at U.S. Capitol|Ovetta Wiggins|January 11, 2021|Washington Post
While the illegal invasion of the Capitol by armed insurrectionists on Wednesday also revealed serious security flaws, it contrasted starkly with the lawful actions of British soldiers in 1814.
The similarities to the last invasion of the Capitol matter — so do the differences|Lawrence Hatter|January 11, 2021|Washington Post
A now-recused prosecutor defended their actions this spring as part of a lawful “citizen’s arrest,” arguing that defendant Travis McMichael had grounds to use deadly force in self-defense.
Newly released video shows police didn’t immediately help Ahmaud Arbery as he lay dying|Bert Roughton, Hannah Knowles|December 18, 2020|Washington Post

Perhaps more than any other moment, this knocks Gaines down our “good” and “lawful” scales.
Who’s The Most Chaotic Movie Football Coach?|Josh Hermsmeyer|December 4, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
The assurance that a fact of Covenanting is predicted is a substantial argument for its lawfulness.
The Ordinance of Covenanting|John Cunningham
It was his duty to make a return on that day; a decision as to the lawfulness of the election pertained to the house of commons.
The Political History of England - Vol. X.|William Hunt
They had ministers of their own appointment, and denied the lawfulness of oaths and of capital punishment.
View of the State of Europe during the Middle Ages, Vol. 3 (of 3)|Henry Hallam
The Elkins law, therefore, explicitly made the published tariff the standard of lawfulness.
Railroads: Rates and Regulations|William Z. Ripley
In one thing, then, did Francis mishear the edict of lawfulness.
The Life of Francis Thompson|Everard Meynell

British Dictionary definitions for lawful

lawful

/ (ˈlɔːfʊl) /

adjective

allowed, recognized, or sanctioned by law; legal

Derived forms of lawful

lawfully, adverblawfulness, noun

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

lawful

OTHER WORDS FOR lawful

Origin of lawful

OTHER WORDS FROM lawful

Words related to lawful

How to use lawful in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for lawful

Derived forms of lawful