legality

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "legality" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to refer to laws and regulations, or the condition of something being in accordance with the law. Example sentence: "The legality of the contract was confirmed by the lawyer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

James Ker-Lindsay, a Balkans expert at the London School of Economics, is more emphatic: "The legality of Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence is the most important case ever to come before the international court of justice.

The Guardian

The professor's opinion ran contrary to the legal advice that the Attorney General was receiving from the Foreign Office, which had expressed doubts about the legality of invading Iraq based on UN resolution 1441.

The Guardian

The government on Thursday delivered a statement to clarify its stand on the controversial question of the legality of settlements after the issued flared up at a Senate hearing the night before.

The Guardian

The legality of marijuana in particular now varies so wildly from state to state that the TSA simply says it does not search travelers for drugs, though it doesn't give them back if it finds them in the course of a screening.

The Guardian

We had different views of the legality of these practices," he said.

The Guardian

They could continue in his absence, unless he successfully blocks them by winning today's appeal against the legality of the orders themselves.

The Guardian

She told Judge Jonathan Teale: "Their honourable and decent motives perhaps might be contrasted with what we now know about the long-term deployment of undercover police officers, one of whom acted on the 'extreme boundary of legality', if not decency, if the reports of agitation and so on across Europe are to be believed.

The Guardian

The authorities have given only incomprehensible advice on the legality of interviewing the Muslim Brotherhood, who are now designated terrorists despite holding public office less than a year ago.

The Guardian

Lawyers for MI5, MI6 and GCHQ faced challenges brought by nearly a dozen British and international civil liberties groups over the legality of US and UK digital surveillance programmes, including Tempora, Prism and Upstream.

The Guardian

While some cities, such as Barcelona, continue to challenge the legality of Airbnb and the impact it can have on local housing, the authorities in Paris are currently embracing it.

The Guardian - Travel

When considering the morality of hunting – before even its legality - what must be stressed is that caring for the environment is not incompatible with supporting hunting.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing complex situations, clearly specify which aspect of "legality" you are addressing, such as international law, local ordinances, or contractual agreements.

Common error

Avoid assuming a simplistic view of "legality". Laws can be interpreted differently, and what is legal in one jurisdiction may not be in another. Always consider potential ambiguities and differing perspectives.

Linguistic Context

The term "legality" functions as a noun, typically referring to the state or quality of being legal. It represents the condition of actions, agreements, or regulations conforming to the law. As supported by Ludwig, the use of "legality" is both correct and common in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "legality" denotes the state of being in accordance with the law. As Ludwig highlights, it is a grammatically sound and frequently employed term. Its function centers around assessing whether actions, agreements, or regulations comply with established laws. It is used across a spectrum of contexts, most commonly in news and media, formal business settings, and scientific discussions. While source authority is high, remember that laws can be interpreted in nuanced ways, varying across jurisdictions. Alternatives such as "lawfulness" and "legal validity" can be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lawfulness

Direct synonym, emphasizing adherence to laws.

legal validity

Focuses on the acceptance of something under the law.

adherence to the law

Highlights the act of following legal principles.

compliance with regulations

Specifies that the action conforms to rules and directives.

legitimacy

Emphasizes acceptance and recognition, often beyond strict legal criteria.

permissibility

Indicates that an action is allowed or not prohibited by law.

licitness

Formal term denoting being lawful or permitted.

constitutional validity

Addresses whether something adheres to constitutional principles.

judicial authorization

Focuses on permission granted by a court of law.

statutory compliance

Specifically relates to adhering to statutes or laws passed by a legislative body.

FAQs

How to use "legality" in a sentence?

You can use "legality" to discuss whether something is in accordance with the law. For example: "The company questioned the "legality" of the government's decision."

What can I say instead of "legality"?

You can use alternatives like "lawfulness", "legal validity", or "legitimacy" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "legality" or "illegality"?

"Legality" refers to the state of being legal, while "illegality" refers to the state of being illegal. The correct term depends on whether the action is permitted by law.

What's the difference between "legality" and "morality"?

"Legality" concerns whether something is permitted by law, while "morality" concerns whether something is ethically right or wrong. An action can be legal but immoral, or vice versa.