legal

USAGE SUMMARY

'legal' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used as an adjective to describe something as related to a law or being in accordance with the law. For example: "He had a legal obligation to pay rent on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's incoherent, it's a bit anarchic, it breaches our international legal obligations.

The Guardian

You must take legal action now or you may lose the opportunity to do so due to future legal obstacles".

The Guardian - Arts

The legal argument focused on the challenge to core of the legislation – its requirement that almost all Americans buy health insurance.

The Guardian

The extended scope of the bill may follow some of the recommendations of the intelligence and security committee (ISC), which suggested in March that the entire existing surveillance legal framework should be replaced by a single new act of parliament.

The Guardian

In all, 45 charges relate to one child, who cannot be identified for legal reasons and is known as "A", and four against a second girl, referred to as "B".

BBC

So far, even though the site has received more than a hundred legal threats, almost no one has filed suit.

The Economist

Anthony McIntyre, a former IRA life sentence prisoner and chief researcher on the Belfast project, defended the archive and blamed Boston College for failing to make clear to him and the interviewees that there was a legal treaty that allowed the British state to seize academic material from the United States.

The Guardian

McIntyre said that during legal challenges against the tapes handover Boston-based judge William Young, who read all the relevant interviews, described the project as a "bona fide academic exercise of considerable intellectual merit".

The Guardian

"There are legal criteria for ordering preventative detention, such as preserving the public order or guaranteeing the continuity of an investigation.

The Guardian - Sport

European watchdogs order Google to rewrite privacy policy or face legal action.

The Guardian - Tech

Unlike some of its rivals it avoided major costs for litigation and legal expenses.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing actions or decisions, specify what makes them "legal" by referencing the relevant law or regulation for clarity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that because something is "legal", it is automatically ethical. "Legal" refers to compliance with laws, while ethics involves moral principles, and they do not always align.

Linguistic Context

The word "legal" primarily functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate a relationship to law, lawyers, or the legal system. As Ludwig AI confirms, it denotes adherence to laws or established regulations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "legal" functions primarily as an adjective denoting something related to or permitted by law. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness. Its frequent usage across contexts like news and media and business indicates its importance in describing actions, obligations, and frameworks that adhere to laws or established regulations. While synonyms like "lawful" and "legitimate" exist, it is important to use the word with careful attention to possible ethical considerations. Overall, the word is very common, and understanding the word and its nuances is vital for clear and correct communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lawful

Implies adherence to established laws or regulations.

legitimate

Focuses on the authenticity and validity according to the law.

licit

Emphasizes permission or allowance by law; the opposite of illicit.

statutory

Relates specifically to laws enacted by a legislature.

constitutional

Pertains to laws and principles established in a constitution.

juridical

Associated with the administration of justice and legal proceedings.

forensic

Related to legal aspects of scientific or technical matters, often in court.

rightful

Suggests a moral or just entitlement according to law.

just

Focuses on fairness and righteousness in accordance with legal standards.

admissible

Refers to evidence or arguments that are acceptable in a court of law.

FAQs

How can I use "legal" in a sentence?

You can use "legal" to describe anything related to law. For instance, "The company sought "legal advice" before launching the new product".

What are some alternatives to the word "legal"?

Alternatives to "legal" include "lawful", "legitimate", and "licit", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "legal" and "legitimate"?

"Legal" strictly refers to compliance with the law. "Legitimate", on the other hand, implies conformity to recognized principles or accepted rules, which may extend beyond formal laws.

Is it correct to say something is "legal" but unethical?

Yes, something can be "legal" but unethical. The law represents a minimum standard of acceptable behavior, while ethics encompass broader moral considerations that may not be codified in law.