legal
9 synonyms and 1 antonym for legal, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Relating to the law.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use legal
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
legal advice
legal action
go legal
Etymology
A learned borrowing from Latin lēgālis, from lēx, "law" — a doublet of "loyal," which came into English through French instead.
Full origin of legal →Frequently asked questions
What does “legal” mean?
The word “legal” means relating to the law. In plain terms, anything to do with law, or specifically permitted under the law.
How do you pronounce “legal”?
“Legal” is pronounced LEE-guhl (/ˈli.ɡəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “legal” in a sentence?
Here is “legal” used in a sentence: “She sought legal advice before signing the contract.”
What part of speech is “legal”?
Depending on how it is used, “legal” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “legal” come from?
The word “legal” comes from Latin. A learned borrowing from Latin lēgālis, from lēx, "law" — a doublet of "loyal," which came into English through French instead.
Is “legal” a common word?
“Legal” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “legal” have?
“Legal” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to the law.
What is the difference between legal and loyal?
The words look and sound somewhat alike but mean very different things. Legal relates to the law, describing what the law allows or what concerns legal matters. Loyal describes faithfulness and steady support for a person, group, or cause. One is about law; the other is about devotion.
What is the difference between legal and illegal?
Legal describes something that relates to the law or is permitted by it, while illegal describes something the law forbids. Driving with a valid licence is legal; driving without one is illegal. The prefix "il-" flips the meaning to what breaks the law rather than what follows it.
What is an example of legal used in a sentence?
You might say, "She sought legal advice before signing," or "The contract is legal and binding." In the first, legal points to the field of law; in the second, it means allowed by law. Both senses tie back to law and its rules.
