Legal
What it means
Permitted by the law or valid under its rules.
Reach for it when making a factual statement about legality without confusing it with fairness or wisdom
The tenants chose a legal method for sharing the cost of the repair.
Words to choose between 7
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| professional |
|
| formal | |
| literary |
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playful
Fits when openness and honest dealing matter in an informal account
Careful Aboveboard praises transparency but offers no legal conclusion.
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everyday
permitted
Fits when a rule or authority explicitly allows the action
Careful Permission may come from a private policy rather than legislation.
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professional
authorized
Fits when a competent body has granted approval
Careful Administrative approval can be withdrawn and answers a different question from legality.
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professional
Fits when a claim is valid under accepted rules or authority
Careful Legitimate can mean reasonable or genuine even outside law.
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formal
Fits when conduct conforms to the applicable law
Careful Lawful has a more solemn tone and may imply moral order beyond technical legality.
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formal
statutory
Fits when the right or duty arises specifically from enacted law
Careful Statutory is narrower than legal and excludes common-law or contractual bases.
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literary
licit
Fits when concise elevated wording suits something not forbidden
Careful Licit is uncommon and can distract readers who need plain legal guidance.
Opposites 4
- illegal
- unlawful
- prohibited
- invalid
Common phrases 3
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legal right
A legal right to translation made the hearing accessible.
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legal route
The association found a legal route to reopen the footpath.
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fully legal
The exchange was fully legal, though the board still reviewed its fairness.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated