LEGAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does legal mean? 

• LEGAL (adjective)
  The adjective LEGAL has 5 senses:

1. established by or founded upon law or official or accepted rules

2. of or relating to jurisprudence

3. having legal efficacy or force

4. relating to or characteristic of the profession of law

5. allowed by official rules

  Familiarity information: LEGAL used as an adjective is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LEGAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Established by or founded upon law or official or accepted rules

Similar:

court-ordered (ordered by a court of law)

judicial (decreed by or proceeding from a court of justice)

jural; juristic (of or relating to law or to legal rights and obligations)

lawful; legitimate; licit (authorized, sanctioned by, or in accordance with law)

ratified; sanctioned (formally approved and invested with legal authority)

statutory (prescribed or authorized by or punishable under a statute)

sub judice (before a judge or court of law; awaiting judicial determination)

Also:

lawful (conformable to or allowed by law)

legitimate (of marriages and offspring; recognized as lawful)

Attribute:

legality (lawfulness by virtue of conformity to a legal statute)

Antonym:

illegal (prohibited by law or by official or accepted rules)

Derivation:

legality (lawfulness by virtue of conformity to a legal statute)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of or relating to jurisprudence

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

legal loophole

Pertainym:

law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Having legal efficacy or force

Synonyms:

effectual; legal; sound

Context example:

a sound title to the property

Similar:

valid (well grounded in logic or truth or having legal force)

Derivation:

legality (lawfulness by virtue of conformity to a legal statute)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Relating to or characteristic of the profession of law

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

the legal profession

Pertainym:

law (the learned profession that is mastered by graduate study in a law school and that is responsible for the judicial system)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Allowed by official rules

Context example:

a legal pass receiver

Similar:

eligible (qualified for or allowed or worthy of being chosen)

Domain category:

athletics; sport (an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition)

 Context examples 

‘Here is my will,’ said he. ‘I want you, Mr. McFarlane, to cast it into proper legal shape. I will sit here while you do so.’

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

They have the crown down at Hurlstone—though they had some legal bother and a considerable sum to pay before they were allowed to retain it.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It is never wise to sign any legal documents during these periods—later you may regret something about the agreement, and it usually is something you never saw coming.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

“So much so,” I remarked, “that of the last six cases which I have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any legal crime.”

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

EXAMPLE(S): The relationship between an organization and its legal representative, the whole/part relationship between an organization and its sub organizations (e.g. departments, divisions).

(Organization Relationship, NCI Thesaurus/BRIDG)

I could not but note the quaint legal phrase which she used in such a place, and with all seriousness.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

This term may also refer to a legal drug used for the same purpose.

(Medicine, NCI Dictionary)

An ethical will is not a legal document.

(Ethical will, NCI Dictionary)

A legal drug that is used to prevent, treat, or relieve symptoms of a disease or abnormal condition.

(Medication, NCI Dictionary)

The application of medical knowledge to questions of law; research, reports and testimony in court by experts in medical science to assist in determining a legal question.

(Forensic Medicine, NCI Thesaurus)