lawful purpose

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lawful purpose" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal contexts to refer to activities or actions that are permitted by law. Example: "The contract stipulates that the funds must be used for a lawful purpose only."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Section 12-130 states: "Contributions received by a candidate or a political committee may be expended for any lawful purpose.

The New York Times

She noted that the precise technology to be used by libraries was not prescribed, and that a library patron with a "bona fide research or other lawful purpose" can get the library to temporarily turn off the filters.

The New York Times

"No company would agree to pay for losses that it did not cause, and BP certainly did not when it entered into this settlement BP will continue to fight to return the settlement to its original, explicit, and lawful purpose – the compensation of claimants who suffered actual losses due to the spill," it said in a statement.

The Guardian

And that when they reach legal age, if they do not break our laws, they have a right to choose to own a gun — a handgun, a long gun, a small gun, a large gun, a black gun, a purple gun, a pretty gun, an ugly gun — and to use that gun to defend themselves and their loved ones or to engage in any lawful purpose they desire without apology or explanation to anyone, ever.

The New York Times

A detailed discussion of the data-protection principles is beyond the scope of this article, but in summary: the information must be processed fairly and lawfully; can only be taken for a lawful purpose; must be adequate and not excessive in relation to the purpose for which it was taken; must be kept for no longer than is necessary; and must be safely and securely maintained.

The Guardian - Opinion

"It is clear that [Mr Anwar's] arrest was lawful and the detention was for a lawful purpose," the judge said.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

The Supreme Court said in that case that the right is "not unlimited" and doesn't protect guns "not typically possessed by law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes".

The New York Times

To get a silencer, for example, a buyer must submit a certification from a local law enforcement official vouching that the silencer will be used for lawful purposes.

Huffington Post

Spyware providers say they sell their products to governments for "lawful purposes".

The Economist

In a blogpost Ron Bell, Yahoo's general counsel, said: "Our legal department demands that government data requests be made through lawful means and for lawful purposes.

The Guardian

They also pointed out that legal devices such as CD burners and MP3 players could be used for copyright infringement as well as for lawful purposes.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In legal documents, pair "lawful purpose" with specific examples to illustrate its application and prevent misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid assuming any vaguely positive intention qualifies as a "lawful purpose". Always verify the action's legality against specific laws and regulations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lawful purpose" primarily functions as an adjective-noun compound describing an intent, action, or objective that aligns with existing laws and regulations. Ludwig examples showcase its role in specifying the legality of various activities.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

19%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lawful purpose" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe actions or intentions that adhere to the law. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is to establish legality, often in professional or neutral contexts such as news, science, and legal documentation. While alternatives like "legal objective" or "legitimate aim" exist, "lawful purpose" clearly communicates compliance with the law. To avoid misinterpretation, always verify that the intended action aligns with specific laws and regulations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

legal objective

Replaces 'purpose' with a synonym and 'lawful' with its direct synonym 'legal'.

legitimate aim

Substitutes 'lawful' with 'legitimate' and 'purpose' with 'aim', maintaining the original meaning.

justifiable reason

Replaces both words, focusing on the justification aspect of lawfulness.

permissible goal

Uses 'permissible' to indicate that the goal aligns with legal boundaries.

authorized intent

Emphasizes the permission aspect of the action or plan.

valid rationale

Focuses on the reasoning behind the action being legally sound.

licit design

A more formal substitution, with similar meaning but different connotation.

statutory objective

Specifically relates to objectives defined by statute or law.

legally compliant target

Highlights adherence to legal compliance in achieving a specific aim.

unobjectionable plan

Indicates that the plan doesn't raise legal objections, focusing on acceptability.

FAQs

How can I use "lawful purpose" in a sentence?

You can use "lawful purpose" to describe actions or intentions that are permitted by law. For example, "The funds can only be used for a "lawful purpose"."

What are some alternatives to "lawful purpose"?

Alternatives include "legal objective", "legitimate aim", or "justifiable reason", depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "legal and lawful purpose"?

While both "legal" and "lawful" have similar meanings, using both can add emphasis in legal documents. However, in most contexts, using just one is sufficient.

What is the difference between "lawful purpose" and "legitimate purpose"?

"Lawful purpose" strictly refers to activities allowed by law, while "legitimate purpose" can encompass activities that are morally or ethically acceptable, even if not explicitly addressed by law. A legitimate purpose is not necessarily a "lawful purpose", and vice versa.