legally viable

USAGE SUMMARY

"legally viable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which a plan, contract, or proposal is able to be legally enforced. For example: The client was happy to see that the contract we proposed was legally viable.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

We have to consider what is legally viable, and defensible, and that we carry it through due process".

The Guardian - Sport

They are trained to identify it, to record it, to give it context and make it legally viable.

The Guardian

Williams says for this complex area of law, there is a clear way through which will produce an effective and legally viable regime to regulate political donations.

The Guardian

In 2014, an appeal court ruled that material support was not a legally viable war crime for the special wartime court at Guantánamo known as a military commission.

The Guardian

The report, however, concluded: "The unanimous legal advice, including from independent counsel, is that testing has shown that the model developed in this work programme would not be legally viable.

The Guardian

The Federal Aviation Administration FAAA), which regulates this area, intends to make commercial drones legally viable and workable by 2015, but this deadline is all-but impossible: managing the skies with this much low-level traffic is a problem people are nowhere near solving.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Even Bezos had the sense to bookend his parenthetical aspirations for drone delivery (aka Prime Air) with a minimum wait for the tech to be (legally and regulatory) viable of "four to five years".

TechCrunch

The international community would reject the Israeli move, leaving the Palestinians with more or less the same non-viable, legally disputed squiggles of desert land they have now.The Palestinian leadership, meanwhile, is unwilling to make the bitter sacrifices needed to get to a peace agreement their constituents will undoubtedly hate.

The Economist

"Legally, it's perfectly viable".

The New York Times

Can the benefits (and therefore the incentives) of ensuring contributions are owned and controlled by a platform's contributors in perpetuity be more commercially viable and legally sensible?

The Guardian

Because the circumstances are different in each case, the FBI works closely with the rest of the US government to consider all viable and legally permissible options to secure their release.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "legally viable" to describe options or actions that can withstand legal challenges and align with legal principles.

Common error

Don't assume that something "legal" is automatically "legally viable". "Legal" means permitted by law, while "legally viable" implies that it can be successfully defended or implemented in a legal context. Something might be technically legal but lack the necessary support to be "legally viable".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "legally viable" primarily functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It describes something that is not only permissible under the law, but also has the capacity to be successfully defended or implemented within a legal framework. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "legally viable" is a phrase used to describe something that is not only legal but also capable of being successfully defended or implemented in a legal context. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, with a professional and neutral register. While it is similar to terms like "legal" and "legitimate", it carries the specific nuance of being able to withstand legal challenges. When using this phrase, it's important to distinguish it from simply being "legal", and to ensure it accurately reflects the situation by consulting with legal experts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

legally permissible

Reorders the original phrase to emphasize the permission aspect, which can subtly shift the focus in certain contexts.

legally defensible

Suggests that an action or decision can be justified in a legal setting, stressing the capacity to withstand legal challenges.

lawful

Focuses on adherence to the law, differing slightly by emphasizing the condition of conforming to the law rather than the ability to function within it.

legitimate

Highlights the validity and acceptability of something according to the law, subtly shifting the emphasis from capability to recognized validity.

compliant with the law

Indicates adherence and conformity to existing legal standards and regulations.

permissible by law

Expands the phrase to explicitly state the allowance by legal standards, offering a more descriptive alternative.

within legal boundaries

Emphasizes the confinement of an action or plan within the limits defined by law.

enforceable by law

Focuses on the ability to compel compliance through legal means, differing slightly by stressing enforceability.

actionable in court

This alternative highlights the potential for legal action and enforcement.

judicially sustainable

Implies that a concept or action can be upheld in a court of law, focusing on the resilience of a legal argument.

FAQs

How can I use "legally viable" in a sentence?

You can use "legally viable" to describe a plan, contract, or argument that is likely to be upheld in court. For example, "The company sought legal counsel to ensure its new policy was "legally viable"".

What's the difference between "legally viable" and "legal"?

"Legal" simply means permitted by law, while "legally viable" suggests something is not only legal but also capable of being successfully defended or implemented in a legal context. Something "legal" might not be "legally viable" if it's easily challenged.

What are some alternatives to saying "legally viable"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "legally permissible", "enforceable by law", or "compliant with the law". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

In what situations is it important to ensure something is "legally viable"?

It's crucial to ensure something is "legally viable" when creating contracts, implementing new business policies, or developing legal strategies. This helps minimize the risk of legal challenges and ensures long-term stability.