lawful

[law-fuhl]

adjective

1. allowed or permitted by law; not contrary to law.

   a lawful enterprise.

   Synonyms: legal

2. recognized or sanctioned by law; legitimate.

   a lawful marriage; a lawful heir.

   Synonyms: licit

3. appointed or recognized by law; legally qualified.

   a lawful king.

4. acting or living according to the law; law-abiding.

   a lawful man; a lawful community.

lawful

/ ˈlɔːfʊl /

adjective

1. allowed, recognized, or sanctioned by law; legal

Other Word Forms

• lawfully adverb
• lawfulness noun
• prelawful adjective
• prelawfully adverb
• prelawfulness noun
• quasi-lawful adjective
• quasi-lawfully adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of lawful¹

First recorded in 1250–1300, lawful is from the Middle English word laghful. See law ¹, -ful

Example Sentences

"While many of these issues are best managed at a school level, consistent with the ethos of the school, the department has a responsibility to set clear, lawful, guiding principles."

From BBC

War was raging in Afghanistan, but I would argue that killings in Yemen and elsewhere were not sufficiently tied to the fighting there to be lawful.

From Salon

"The fact that US officials describe the individuals killed by the US strike as narco-terrorists does not transform them into lawful military targets," he said.

From BBC

As an outspoken supporter of the Palestinian people, one of Yousaf's primary concerns is what he called a "chilling effect on lawful expression".

From BBC

“And he has no such lawful authority today.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• authorized 
• constitutional 
• justifiable 
• legal 
• permissible 
• proper 
• rightful 
• statutory 
• valid