legless

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'legless' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used as an adjective to describe someone or something that has no legs or is unable to use their legs. Example: The veteran lost both his legs in the war and now he is legless.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

These legless and unsmiling women have been outfitted with high-tech prostheses by the cheerful Americans and then taught to dance in uniform, Rockettes-style.

The Economist

Less stretched, for now Out of options Doing the walkie-talkie The Eagle has landed The last love bug In praise of trial lawyers Reprints Related items The VW Beetle: Legless but lovableAug 22nd 2002 Return of the BeetleJan 8th 1998But even the Beetle has now succumbed to market forces.

The Economist

Vote and ride Go north, Limeño Clueless, not legless ReprintsAfter a long filibuster by the opposition was defeated, the National Assembly on April 30th approved a law that adds 12 new justices to the 20-member supreme court.

The Economist

Vote and ride Go north, Limeño Clueless, not legless ReprintsAll this is a challenge to much conventional wisdom.

The Economist

This was able to hover, manoeuvre around in mid-air, and land itself back on the pad that launched it.Then, last September, it attempted to organise the controlled descent of a legless first stage.

The Economist

Vote and ride Go north, Limeño Clueless, not legless Reprints Related items Argentina's energy shortage: The laws of economics bite backApr 22nd 2004Chile's government faces local elections in October and hopes to get through the winter without blackouts.

The Economist

Resembling an androgynous and legless child with short, handless arms, Telenoid, as it is called, is essentially a large humanoid phone.

The Economist

Vote and ride Go north, Limeño Clueless, not legless Reprints Related items The Dominican Republic: Let them play baseballFeb 12th 2004 Dominican Republic: A spectacular fall from graceDec 11th 2003An outright win for Mr Fernández on Sunday would be neater than a result requiring a run-off ballot.

The Economist

Nevertheless, we are looking for evidence of the opposite; that getting legless makes you feckless.As a bit of fun, then, I took the 34 OECD countries and compared their alcohol consumption with their GDP per capita.

The Economist

Vote and ride Go north, Limeño Clueless, not legless ReprintsThe expulsion order has caused uproar.

The Economist

Five years ago, the answer seemed obvious: sweep away the archaic licensing laws, which encouraged rapid "drinking up" and filled the streets with legless punters at eleven o'clock.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "legless" to describe a person, be mindful of the context and potential sensitivities. Consider using alternative phrases like "person without legs" in formal or sensitive situations.

Common error

Avoid using "legless" solely to describe someone's physical condition in a derogatory or dehumanizing manner. Focus on respectful and person-first language.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "legless" primarily functions to describe the absence of legs, either literally or figuratively, as evidenced in Ludwig's examples describing animals or individuals without legs. It can also denote extreme intoxication.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "legless" functions primarily as an adjective, denoting either the literal absence of legs or a state of extreme intoxication. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the term is grammatically sound and commonly used. While versatile, it's essential to consider the context. When describing a person's physical condition, using person-first language is often more respectful. The phrase sees frequent use in News & Media and Encyclopedias, with a less formal usage to describe someone who is extremely drunk.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without legs

Directly describes the physical absence of legs.

unable to stand due to intoxication

Specifically refers to the state of being drunk and unable to stand.

incapacitated by alcohol

A more formal way of saying someone is extremely drunk.

paralyzed from the waist down

Describes a specific physical condition affecting the legs.

amputated legs

Refers to the surgical removal of legs.

heavily intoxicated

A formal way of saying someone is very drunk.

dead drunk

An informal way of saying someone is extremely drunk.

blind drunk

An informal term for extreme drunkenness, implying loss of vision or control.

three sheets to the wind

An idiomatic expression for being very drunk.

out of it

A general term for being impaired, which could be due to alcohol or other factors.

FAQs

How can "legless" be used in a sentence?

You can use "legless" to describe someone without legs, as in "The "legless veteran" uses a wheelchair". It can also mean extremely drunk, as in "He was "legless after the party"".

What are some alternatives to the word "legless"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "without legs", "unable to walk", or "heavily intoxicated".

Is it appropriate to use the word "legless" to describe someone?

While "legless" is a recognized term, it can be considered insensitive. Using person-first language like "person without legs" is generally more respectful.

What's the difference between saying someone is "legless" and saying they are "disabled"?

"Disabled" is a broader term encompassing various impairments, while "legless" specifically refers to the absence of legs. A "legless person" may identify as disabled, but the terms are not interchangeable.