Dictionary.com

legal

[ lee-guhl ]
/ ˈli gəl /
Save This Word!
See synonyms for: legal / legally on Thesaurus.com

adjective
noun
QUIZ
ALL IN FAVO(U)R OF THIS BRITISH VS. AMERICAN ENGLISH QUIZ
There's an ocean of difference between the way people speak English in the US vs. the UK. Are your language skills up to the task of telling the difference? Let's find out!
Question 1 of 7
True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.

Origin of legal

First recorded in 1490–1500; from Latin lēgālis ā€œof the law,ā€ equivalent to lēg- (stem of lēx ) ā€œlawā€ + -ālis adjective suffix; see -al1

OTHER WORDS FROM legal

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Ā© Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use legal in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for legal

legal
/ (ˈliːɔəl) /

adjective
established by or founded upon law; lawful
of or relating to law
recognized, enforceable, or having a remedy at law rather than in equity
relating to or characteristic of the profession of law

Derived forms of legal

legally, adverb

Word Origin for legal

C16: from Latin lēgālis, from lēx law
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition Ā© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 Ā© HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
FEEDBACK