legally

L1E1G2A1L1L1Y4
/ˈliːɡəli/

adverb

As permitted by law; not contrary to law.

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

CommonScrabble 11

Meanings

adverblegally (comparative more legally, superlative most legally)

comparative more legally · superlative most legally

  1. As permitted by law; not contrary to law.

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

    1 more example

    On the question of whether a memorandum of understanding is legally binding, British courts have held that this is determined by the presence (or, as the case may be, absence) of an intention to create a legal obligation, on the part of the states parties concerned, at the time of entry into the arrangement.

    2012, Dinah Shelton, International Law and Domestic Legal Systems, page 624

    Synonyms: lawfully, lawfully, legitimately, licitly, illegally, criminally, forbiddenly, illegally

  2. From a legal perspective.

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

    1 more example

    After filing paperwork to change his name, the rapper, born Kanye Omari West, finally got what he asked for, and will be legally known as “Ye.”

    2021 October 19, Amy Woodyatt, “Forget Kanye West. He’s now officially just Ye”, in CNN

    Synonyms: legalistically

Synonyms & antonyms

adverbFrom a legal perspective.

More synonyms by meaning

adverbby law; conforming to the law

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

Translations

Catalan legalment, legalment
  • legalmentas permitted by law
  • legalmentfrom a legal perspective
Danish lovligt, lovmæssigt
  • lovligtas permitted by law
  • lovmæssigtfrom a legal perspective
Esperanto leĝe, laŭleĝe
  • leĝeas permitted by law
  • laŭleĝefrom a legal perspective
Finnish laillisesti, juridisesti
  • laillisestias permitted by law
  • juridisestifrom a legal perspective
French légalement
  • légalementas permitted by law
German legal
  • legalas permitted by law
Greek νομίμως, νομικώς
  • νομίμως (nomímos)as permitted by law
  • νομικώς (nomikós)from a legal perspective
Hungarian legálisan, törvényesen
  • legálisanas permitted by law
  • törvényesenas permitted by law
  • jogilagfrom a legal perspective
Italian legalmente
  • legalmenteas permitted by law
Latin lēge
  • lēgeas permitted by law
Norwegian Bokmål juridisk
  • juridiskas permitted by law
Persian قانوناً
  • قانوناً (qânunan)as permitted by law
Polish legalnie, legalnie
  • legalnieas permitted by law
  • legalniefrom a legal perspective
Portuguese legalmente
  • legalmenteas permitted by law
Romanian legal, legal
  • legalas permitted by law
  • legalfrom a legal perspective
  • juridicfrom a legal perspective
  • juridiceștefrom a legal perspective
Russian зако́нно, лега́льно
  • зако́нно (zakónno)as permitted by law
  • лега́льно (legálʹno)as permitted by law
Spanish legalmente
  • legalmenteas permitted by law
Swedish juridisk
  • juridiskas permitted by law
Cite this entry
APA

legally. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/legally

MLA

“legally.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/legally. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “legally,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/legally.

Source: legally on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.