legal
Plurallegals (some meanings)
- 1Having to do with the law or with lawyers.
She decided to study for a legal career after college.
The charity gives free legal advice to families who cannot afford it.
UsageMostly before a noun: legal advice, a legal problem.
Note
- 2Allowed or set up by the law, or true in the eyes of the law.
Like having a green light from the law to do something.
Gambling is legal in some states but banned in others.
They checked that the contract was fully legal before signing it.
UsageSay it is legal to do something. The opposite is illegal.
Note
- 3Old enough to meet a minimum age set by law, such as the drinking age.
She's finally legal, so we can all celebrate at the bar together.
He counted down the days until he was legal.
UsageIt can sound rude, so be careful how you use it.
Oppositeunderage
Note
Less common meanings
- 4Allowed by the rules of a system, such as a game or a computer program.
In chess, castling is only a legal move under certain conditions.
The computer refused my code because one line was not legal in that language.
UsageOften in legal move, a move the rules of a game allow.
Similarvalid, allowed, permissible, legitimate
Note
- 5The part of a company that deals with laws, contracts, and disputes.
You should run the contract past legal before you sign it.
Legal hasn't approved the new terms yet.
UsageUsed with no the, like a name: ask Legal. In formal writing, say the legal department.
- 6Paper measuring about 8½ by 14 inches.
Print the long contract on legal, not letter.
The tray was loaded with legal for the court documents.
UsageTo count it, say sheets of legal or sheets of legal-size paper.
Note
- 7Of paper: a long size, 8½ by 14 inches in the US and Canada, or 8½ by 13 inches in the Philippines.
She printed the report on legal paper to fit the wide tables.
The folder was made to hold legal pages without folding them.
UsageOften in legal paper and legal-size folders.
Note
- 8Allowing the use or sale of cannabis.
Colorado became a legal state for cannabis years ago.
Now that our state is legal, there are cannabis shops downtown.
UsageOften in legal state, or go legal.
Note
- 9A person who came to live in a country in a lawful way.
My uncle came here as a legal, but many of his friends had no papers.
The new rules treat legals and undocumented arrivals very differently.
UsageIt can sound blunt, so careful writers say lawful immigrants.
Oppositeillegal, undocumented
Note
- 10A spy who works under cover as an official at an embassy or army base.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
From Latin lēgālis, meaning "legal," which came from lēx, meaning "law."
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- English legal comes from Latin lēgālis, meaning legal. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin lēgālis derives from lēx. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin lēx means law. en.wiktionary.org