adj · noun · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈlɔːfl̩/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Operating according to some law or fundamental principle.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Of a character: having an alignment which makes them tend to follow the laws and conventions of society.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: roleplaying games
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A character having a lawful alignment.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: roleplaying games
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective
Meaning 5
conformable to or allowed by law
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
lawful methods of dissent
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: unlawful
6
adjective satellite
Meaning 6
authorized, sanctioned by, or in accordance with law
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a legitimate government
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: legitimate, licit
Antonyms: none provided
7
adjective satellite
Meaning 7
having a legally established claim
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the legitimate heir
the true and lawful king
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: true(a), rightful(a)
Antonyms: none provided
8
adjective satellite
Meaning 8
according to custom or rule or natural law
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: rule-governed
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Middle English laweful, equivalent to law + -ful, conflated with Middle English leful, leeful, leveful (“according to law, lawful, pertaining to law”). See also leveful.
Across languages
Translations
42 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
قانوني
(qānūniyy)
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Bulgarian:
законен
(zakonen)
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Chinese Mandarin:
合法的
(héfǎ de)
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Dutch:
wettig
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Dutch:
rechtmatig
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Finnish:
lainmukainen
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Finnish:
laillinen
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
French:
légal
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Georgian:
კანონიერი
(ḳanonieri)
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
German:
gesetzlich
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
German:
legal
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
German:
rechtsmäßig
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Hindi:
विधिक
(vidhik)
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Hungarian:
törvényes
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Hungarian:
törvényszerű
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Icelandic:
löglegur
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Irish:
dleathach
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Japanese:
合法な
(gōhō na)
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Latin:
lēgitimus
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Latvian:
likumīgs
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Luxembourgish:
gesetzlech
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Macedonian:
законит
(zakonit)
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Middle English:
laweful
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Old English:
ǣwlīċ
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Polish:
prawowierny
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Polish:
prawomierny
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Polish:
prawomocny
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Polish:
legalny
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Portuguese:
legal
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Portuguese:
legalizado
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Romanian:
legal
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Russian:
зако́нный
(zakónnyj)
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Russian:
лега́льный
(legálʹnyj)
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Russian:
правоме́рный
(pravomérnyj)
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Scottish Gaelic:
dligheach
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Swahili:
halali
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Swedish:
laglig
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Swedish:
berättigad
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Swedish:
rättmätig
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Tajik:
расмӣ
(rasmi)
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Turkish:
yasal
— conforming to or recognised by law or rules
Finnish:
oikeutettu
— operating according to some law or fundamental principle
