WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
le•gal /ˈligəl/USA pronunciation
adj.
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- permitted by law;
lawful:Theft is not legal. - of or relating to law:[before a noun]the legal system.
- of, relating to, or befitting the profession of law or lawyers:[before a noun]She has a sharp legal mind.
n. [countable]
- a person who acts in a legal manner.
le•gal
(lē′gəl),USA pronunciation adj.
n.
le′gal•ly, adv.
- permitted by law;
lawful:Such acts are not legal. - of or pertaining to law;
connected with the law or its administration:the legal profession. - appointed, established, or authorized by law;
deriving authority from law. - recognized by law rather than by equity.
- of, pertaining to, or characteristic of the profession of law or of lawyers:a legal mind.
- Religion[Theol.]
- of or pertaining to the Mosaic Law.
- of or pertaining to the doctrine that salvation is gained by good works rather than through free grace.
n.
- a person who acts in a legal manner or with legal authority.
- an alien who has entered a country legally.
- a person whose status is protected by law.
- Sporta fish or game animal, within specified size or weight limitations, that the law allows to be caught and kept during an appropriate season.
- a foreigner who conducts espionage against a host country while working there in a legitimate capacity, often in the diplomatic service.
- legals, authorized investments that may be made by fiduciaries, as savings banks or trustees.
- Latin lēgālis of the law, equivalent. to lēg- (stem of lēx) law + -ālis -al1
- 1490–1500
- 3. licit, legitimate, sanctioned.
'legally' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
advance
- age
- age of consent
- agreement
- anticipation
- attorney
- belligerent
- bigamy
- carry forward
- certify
- certifiable
- certified
- clerk
- competence
- constitute
- consummate
- debt of honour
- de facto
- de jure
- disable
- dissolve
- duty
- ethical
- gentlemen's agreement
- ground
- guardian
- heir
- holder
- imperfect
- imperial
- incompetent
- inheritance
- judges' rules
- jump
- just
- liable
- limitation
- moratorium
- national bank
- negotiable
- nonage
- notary public
- nullity
- nullify
- obligate
- obligation
- opening time
- penalize
- physician
- privity