Standard Lemma guide

legally

adv · 4 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

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  • /ˈliːɡəli/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • UK: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: L IY1 G AH0 L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

As permitted by law; not contrary to law.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • You can legally park in the lot on weekends without paying the fee, they won't ticket you.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: lawfully, legally, legitimately, licitly, illegally, criminally, forbiddenly, illegitimately, illicitly, unlawfully

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

From a legal perspective.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Legally, I think you are covered, but there are angry guys with baseball bats outside.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: legalistically

Antonyms: none provided

3

adverb

Meaning 3

in a legal manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he acted legally

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adverb

Meaning 4

by law; conforming to the law

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • we are lawfully wedded now

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: lawfully, de jure

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From legal + -ly. Piecewise doublet of leally and loyally.

Across languages

Translations

33 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Asturian: llegalmente — as permitted by law
  • Catalan: legalment — as permitted by law
  • Danish: lovligt — as permitted by law
  • Esperanto: leĝe — as permitted by law
  • Finnish: laillisesti — as permitted by law
  • French: légalement — as permitted by law
  • Galician: legalmente — as permitted by law
  • German: legal — as permitted by law
  • Greek: νομίμως (nomímos) — as permitted by law
  • Hungarian: legálisan — as permitted by law
  • Hungarian: törvényesen — as permitted by law
  • Italian: legalmente — as permitted by law
  • Latin: lēge — as permitted by law
  • Norwegian Bokmål: juridisk — as permitted by law
  • Old English: ǣwlīċe — as permitted by law
  • Persian: قانوناً (qânunan) — as permitted by law
  • Polish: legalnie — as permitted by law
  • Portuguese: legalmente — as permitted by law
  • Romanian: legal — as permitted by law
  • Russian: зако́нно (zakónno) — as permitted by law
  • Russian: лега́льно (legálʹno) — as permitted by law
  • Spanish: legalmente — as permitted by law
  • Swedish: juridisk — as permitted by law
  • Catalan: legalment — from a legal perspective
  • Danish: lovmæssigt — from a legal perspective
  • Esperanto: laŭleĝe — from a legal perspective
  • Finnish: juridisesti — from a legal perspective
  • Greek: νομικώς (nomikós) — from a legal perspective
  • Hungarian: jogilag — from a legal perspective
  • Polish: legalnie — from a legal perspective
  • Romanian: legal — from a legal perspective
  • Romanian: juridic — from a legal perspective
  • Romanian: juridicește — from a legal perspective
Real reading context

legally in complete knowledge articles