/ˈliː.ɡəl/, /ˈli.ɡəl/
OriginLearned borrowing from Latin lēgālis (“legal”), from lēx (“law”). Doublet of loyal and leal.
- Relating to the law or to lawyers.
“legal profession”
“According to this saga of intellectual-property misanthropy, these creatures [patent trolls] roam the business world, buying up patents and then using them to demand extravagant payouts from companies”
- Having its basis in the law.
- Being established, permitted, required or prescribed by law.
“legal motion”
“In South Africa, it’s still legal to “trophy hunt” the white rhino, which [Anna] Merz and others find reprehensible.”
“After 50 years, legal segregation is a distant memory, and race in America is not the unbridgeable chasm it once was. The country has a black president. The sort of comity that King evoked, in which t”
- Following the rules or syntax of a system, such as a game or a programming language.
“If you have no legal move, but are not in check the game is a draw.”
“Programming languages are designed so that each legal program has exactly one meaning”
- informalAbove the age of consent or the legal drinking age.
“"Is she even legal? Shame on you, diddlin' a girl too young to buy beer. You being a church deacon and all." If looks could kill, Dale would be dead.”
“"Is she even legal? She looks like a minor." Elias whispers back, "Of course. I checked her passport. She's 20. What do you take me for? Be nice. I like her." I immediately smile at the girl behind El”
- Permitting the use and/or sale of cannabis; in which cannabis is lawful.
“Whether you're interested in opening a retail marijuana store in a legal state or if you're interested in investing in someone or a company, which is operating in a legal state, there are[…]”
“[Because] marijuana is still a federally illegal drug, using the drug in a child's presence, even in a legal state, could thus be construed as child abuse.”
- Canada, USOf paper or document layouts, measuring 8+¹⁄₂ × 14 inches (216 × 356 mm).
- PhilippinesOf paper or document layouts, measuring 8+¹⁄₂ × 13 inches (216 × 330 mm).
- informal, uncountableThe legal department of a company or organization.
“Legal wants this in writing.”
- countableA spy who is attached to, and ostensibly employed by, an embassy, military outpost, etc.
- US, countable, informalOne who immigrated lawfully.
- Canada, US, uncountableA paper sheet or document measuring 8+¹⁄₂ × 14 inches (216 × 356 mm).
- A town in Alberta, Canada.
Formsmore legal(comparative) · most legal(superlative) · legals(plural)