legality
Americannoun
-
the state or quality of being in conformity with the law; lawfulness.
- Synonyms:
- validity, legitimacy
-
attachment to or observance of law.
-
Usually legalities. a duty or obligation imposed by law.
-
Theology. reliance on good works for salvation rather than on free grace.
noun
-
the state or quality of being legal or lawful
-
adherence to legal principles
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of legality
1425–75; late Middle English legalite < Medieval Latin lēgālitās. See legal, -ity
Explanation
If you’re wondering about the legality of not paying taxes on your lottery winnings, then you’re wondering if it’s legal not to pay the taxes. The noun legality traces back to the Latin word legalis, meaning law, and it used to indicate the degree to which something agrees with the law. If you question the legality of something, such as a wiretap, what you’re doing is questioning whether or not it’s legal in a court of law. You might hear someone say that a court validated the legality of a particular action. That means the court ruled that the action was legal.
Vocabulary lists containing legality
And Then There Were None
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
leg, legis (law)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
See Examples For:
Judge Hellerstein also on Wednesday set a November 17 hearing devoted to defense motions, including a challenge to the legality of how Maduro and Flores were captured.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
“But everything must be done under a state of legality and order and transparency. That has not been the case here.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
They claimed—and Mr. Smith apparently agrees—that Lenin unleashed terror and violated legality sparingly.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
FEC is not the first time the Supreme Court considered the legality of party expenditure limits.
From Salon ● Jul. 2, 2026
It was as though he knew very well that in Lombard's past actions legality had not always been a sine qua non....
From "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie
The company’s current stock price is quite low, offering a good opportunity for buybacks, the CFO said, but the timeline remains dependent on legalities and regulations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 12, 2026
But they must first deal with the legalities of their bequest.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 26, 2025
Dear Liz: My mother recently passed and my sister is handling all the legalities.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 27, 2025
In some cases, medical teams are wasting precious time debating legalities and creating documentation, preparing for the possibility that they’ll need to explain their actions to a jury and judge.
From Salon ● Nov. 1, 2024
I thought maybe we’d discuss how to navigate social situations with lobbyists or the legalities of raising money for a future campaign.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Definitions 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.
