legality
Americannoun
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the state or quality of being in conformity with the law; lawfulness.
- Synonyms:
- validity, legitimacy
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attachment to or observance of law.
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Usually legalities. a duty or obligation imposed by law.
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Theology. reliance on good works for salvation rather than on free grace.
noun
-
the state or quality of being legal or lawful
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adherence to legal principles
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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
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leg, legis (law)
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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.
The Supreme Court is due to rule on the legality of the move.
From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026
For several years, the legality of buying a wearable with HSA or FSA funds was unclear.
From MarketWatch • May 28, 2026
That gives the courts a chance to weigh in on the legality of the entire fund.
From Slate • May 22, 2026
Thurmond said he would withhold tax credits, subsidies and benefits from non-cooperative insurers, although moderators and other candidates raised questions about the legality of this strategy.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026
“The issue is not the legality of the bone marrow analysis,” Eldon Rosen said huskily.
From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick
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.
