legality

[lee-gal-i-tee]

noun, plural le·gal·i·ties.

the state or quality of being in conformity with the law; lawfulness.

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.

Origin of legality

1425–75; late Middle English legalite < Medieval Latin lēgālitās. See legal, -ity

Related formspseu·do·le·gal·i·ty, noun, plural pseu·do·le·gal·i·ties.

Synonyms for legality

1. legitimacy, licitness, validity.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for legalities

validity, justice, right, authority, lawfulness, permissibility, constitutionality

Examples from the Web for legalities

Contemporary Examples of legalities

Classes ranged from the legalities and safety of urban exploration to site design and event documentation.
A Most Illegal Adventure with New York City’s Wildest Underground Event Planners
Nina Strochlic
December 16, 2013
Legalities aside, it is shockingly irresponsible to just walk off the job—never mind that he was walking on the wild side.
Sanford's Dereliction of Duty Trumps His Hypocrisy
Paul Begala
June 24, 2009

Historical Examples of legalities

These gods, with their moralities and legalities and intellectual subtlety, will go under and be starved out of existence.
The Perfect Wagnerite
George Bernard Shaw

British Dictionary definitions for legalities

legality

noun plural -ties

the state or quality of being legal or lawful

adherence to legal principles

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

Word Origin and History for legalities

legality

mid-15c., from Middle French légalité, from Medieval Latin legalitatem (nominative legalitas), from Latin legalis "pertaining to the law" (see legal).