Legal is used to describe things that relate to the law.
He vowed to take legal action.
...the British legal system.
I sought legal advice on this.
...the legal profession.
Synonyms: judicial, judiciary, forensic, juridical More Synonyms of legal
legallyadverb [ADVERB with verb, ADVERB adjective]
There are reasons to doubt that a second trial is morally, legally or politicallyjustified.
It could be a bit problematic, legally speaking.
2. adjective
An action or situation that is legal is allowed or required by law.
What I did was perfectly legal.
...drivers who have more than the legal limit of alcohol.
Synonyms: lawful, allowed, sanctioned, constitutional More Synonyms of legal
legallyadverb [ADVERB adjective, ADVERB with verb]
The school is legally responsible for your child's safety.
A lorry driver can legally work eighty-two hours a week.
legal in British English
(ˈliːɡəl)
adjective
1.
established by or founded upon law; lawful
2.
of or relating to law
3.
recognized, enforceable, or having a remedy at law rather than in equity
4.
relating to or characteristic of the profession of law
Derived forms
legally (ˈlegally)
adverb
Word origin
C16: from Latin lēgālis, from lēx law
legal in American English
(ˈligəl)
adjective
1.
of, created by, based upon, or authorized by law
2.
in conformity with the positive rules of law; permitted by law
a legal act
3.
that can be enforced in a court of law
legal rights
4.
of or applicable to lawyers
legal ethics
5.
in terms of the law
a legal offense
6. Theology
a.
of the Mosaic law
b.
of the doctrine of salvation by good works rather than free grace
noun
7. [pl.]
legal list
SYNONYMY NOTE: legal implies literal connection or conformity with statute or common law or its administration[legal rights]; lawful, a more general word, may suggest conformity to the principle rather than to theletter of the law or may broadly refer to that which is not contrary to the law [a lawful but shady enterprise]; legitimate implies legality of a claim to a title or right [a legitimate heir] or accordance with what is sanctioned or accepted as lawful, reasonable, etc. [a legitimate argument]; licit implies strict conformity to the law, especially in trade, commerce, or personalrelations [licit marriage]
OPPOSITES: illegal, unlawful, illicit
Derived forms
legally (ˈlegally)
adverb
Word origin
MFr légal < L legalis < lex (gen. legis), law, prob. < IE base *le-, to collect > L legere, Gr legein, to collect
Examples of 'legal' in a sentence
legal
That came after legal action by privacy campaigners against the social network.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It follows a string of legal battles which last year saw its elephant shows halted.
The Sun (2017)
You should seek formal legal advice to establish your position.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It would make sense to take legal advice on the options for ownership and any implications.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She is considering legal action against the dental surgery.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In recent years legal battles with animal welfare groups have plagued the circus.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
He was subsequently arrested and offered legal advice.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The case did not reach court because a judge deemed that a legal time limit had been breached.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You will be able to take legal action if you have a strong trading history under a business name.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We have also structured the scheme to provide an incentive to early settlement to encourage swift resolution of claims and limit legal costs.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
You do not need specialist legal advice.
The Sun (2015)
They added the split is amicable and that a messy and expensive legal battle is unlikely.
The Sun (2013)
What to take and what not to number of legal actions.
Thompson, Sir Peter Sharing the Success - the story of NFC (1990)
Other scholars take the view that criminal law lacks any legal quality at all.
de Haan, Willem The Politics of Redress - crime, punishment and penal abolition (1989)
Detailed legal advice concluded that no criminal offence had been committed in taking the identities.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
More legal battles are in the offing.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Church leaders should discuss such behavior with law enforcement and legal counsel.
Christianity Today (2000)
Answers are intended as general guidance and do not constitute legal advice.
The Sun (2015)
It has stopped its work while it fights the legal battle.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Apparently delays in their deportation are caused by legal battles.
The Sun (2012)
Prisoners should also be able to seek legal advice about any matter which affects their treatment in prison.
Coyle, Andrew & Stern, Vivien The Prisons We Deserve (1994)
He has received compensation from the British government in return for dropping a legal action.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Many can no longer afford the court fees, and have no access to advice through legal aid.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In cases where homeowners selling up have issues with neighbours, policies can cover legal action taken against them.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He dismissed the action to strike out the debt after discovering that there was no legal case law barring minors from sitting in the boardroom.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Downing Street sources said the move could give personnel the right to take legal action if they felt the covenant had not been upheld.
The Sun (2010)
So, he decides to take legal action against the almighty, aided by a crusading lawyer.
The Sun (2011)
In other languages
legal
British English: legal /ˈliːɡl/ ADJECTIVE
Legal is used to describe things that relate to the law.
He found he had a legal problem.
American English: legal
Arabic: قَانُونِيٌّ
Brazilian Portuguese: legal lei
Chinese: 法定的
Croatian: pravni
Czech: právní
Danish: juridisk
Dutch: juridisch
European Spanish: legal
Finnish: laillinen
French: légal
German: legal
Greek: νόμιμος
Italian: legale
Japanese: 合法的な
Korean: 합법적인
Norwegian: lovlig
Polish: prawny
European Portuguese: legal lei
Romanian: legal
Russian: юридический
Latin American Spanish: legal
Swedish: juridisk
Thai: ที่ถูกกฎหมาย
Turkish: yasal
Ukrainian: правовий
Vietnamese: hợp pháp
All related terms of 'legal'
legal age
the age at which a person acquires full legal rights and responsibilities ; majority
legal aid
Legal aid is money given by the government or another organization to people who cannot afford to pay for a lawyer .
legal cap
ruled writing paper , about 8 by 13 1 ⁄ 2 inches with the fold at the top , for use by lawyers
legal pad
a writing pad of yellow or white, lined paper the size of legal cap or slightly smaller
legal case
In law, a case is a trial or other legal inquiry .
legal costs
the costs of a court action; the judge decides which side should pay them
legal eagle
a legal expert
legal fees
fees paid to lawyers
legal high
A legal high is a drug that is taken because of its pleasant effects , but which is not illegal .
legal issue
An issue is an important subject that people are arguing about or discussing .
legal limit
→ the legal limit
legal list
investments that banks and certain other fiduciaries are legally authorized to make
legal right
If you have a right to do or to have something, you are morally or legally entitled to do it or to have it.
legal-size
designating paper of the size used for a legal pad
legal advice
Legal is used to describe things that relate to the law.
legal adviser
a lawyer who gives advice
legal entity
a person or organization that can enter into contracts , and take part in legal action
legal expert
An expert is a person who is very skilled at doing something or who knows a lot about a particular subject.
legal fiction
an acceptance of something as true , for the sake of convenience ; legal pretence
legal holiday
any of several weekdays which are observed as national holidays
legal offence
a crime that breaks a particular law and requires a particular punishment
legal opinion
judgment or belief not founded on certainty or proof
legal process
a process of law
legal reasons
The reason for something is a fact or situation which explains why it happens or what causes it to happen.
legal redress
money that someone pays you because they have caused you harm or loss
legal reserve
the funds that a bank , insurance company, etc. is required by law to maintain as reserves
legal system
the set of laws of a country and the ways in which they are interpreted and enforced
legal tender
Legal tender is money, especially a particular coin or banknote , which is officially part of a country's currency at a particular time.
legal argument
An argument is a statement or set of statements that you use in order to try to convince people that your opinion about something is correct .
legal currency
money that is officially part of a country's currency
legal document
a document concerning a legal matter ; a document drawn up by a lawyer
legal liability
If you are liable for something such as a debt , you are legally responsible for it.
legal medicine
the applied use of medical knowledge or practice, esp pathology , to the purposes of the law, as in determining the cause of death
legal services
If an organization or company provides a particular service , they can do a particular job or a type of work for you.
legal successor
a person or thing that legally follows , esp a person who succeeds another in an office
legal department
the department that deals with legal matters
legal obligation
If you have an obligation to do something, it is your duty to do that thing.
legal positivism
a strong form of empiricism , esp as established in the philosophical system of Auguste Comte , that rejects metaphysics and theology as seeking knowledge beyond the scope of experience, and holds that experimental investigation and observation are the only sources of substantial knowledge
legal proceedings
legal action taken against someone
legal profession
→ the legal profession
legal protection
Protections are laws and other official measures intended to protect people's rights and freedoms .
legal separation
→ another term (esp US) for judicial separation
legal representation
representation by a lawyer
legal responsibility
If you have responsibility for something or someone, or if they are your responsibility , it is your job or duty to deal with them and to take decisions relating to them.
the legal limit
the maximum amount of something that is allowed by law, esp the amount of alcohol allowed before driving
the legal profession
the profession of law
legal expenses insurance
Legal expenses insurance is insurance coverage against expenses incurred when you need to seek legal advice or pay for a lawsuit .
forensic chemistry
the application of facts concerning chemistry to questions of civil and criminal law
forensic medicine
the applied use of medical knowledge or practice, esp pathology , to the purposes of the law, as in determining the cause of death
Chinese translation of 'legal'
legal
(ˈliːɡl)
adj
(= relating to law)[system, requirement]法律的 (fǎlǜ de)
(= allowed by law)[action, situation]合法的 (héfǎ de)
to take legal action/proceedings against sb对(對)某人采(採)取法律行动(動)/提出诉(訴)讼(訟) (duì mǒurén cǎiqǔ fǎlǜ xíngdòng/tíchū sùsòng)
All related terms of 'legal'
legal holiday
法定假期 fǎdìng jiàqī [ 个(個) gè ] [ 英 = bank holiday, public holiday ]
legal practitioner
从(從)业(業)律师(師) cóngyè lǜshī
to be couched in polite language/legal terms
以礼(禮)貌的语(語)言/法律措辞(辭)表达(達) yǐ lǐmào de yǔyán/fǎlǜ cuòcí biǎodá