lawful

adjective

law·​ful ˈlȯ-fəl How to pronounce lawful (audio)
1
a
: being in harmony with the law
a lawful judgment
b
: constituted, authorized, or established by law : rightful
lawful institutions
2
: law-abiding
lawful citizens
lawfully adverb
lawfulness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for lawful

lawful, legal, legitimate, licit mean being in accordance with law.

lawful may apply to conformity with law of any sort (such as natural, divine, common, or canon).

the lawful sovereign

legal applies to what is sanctioned by law or in conformity with the law, especially as it is written or administered by the courts.

legal residents of the state

legitimate may apply to a legal right or status but also, in extended use, to a right or status supported by tradition, custom, or accepted standards.

a perfectly legitimate question about taxes

licit applies to a strict conformity to the provisions of the law and applies especially to what is regulated by law.

the licit use of drugs by doctors

Examples of lawful in a Sentence

a lawful search of the property hunting is a lawful activity only if you have the proper license
Recent Examples on the Web Last week, the suspects were returned to Grenada, where they were all charged with two counts of capital murder, escaping lawful custody, housebreaking, robbery and two counts of kidnapping. Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2024 Cochran’s lawyer argued the killing was either lawful or imperfect self-defense, and argued prosecutors hadn’t proved a murder. Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024 Ron Mitchell, a 30-year-old sailor; Atiba Stanislaus, a 25-year-old farmer; and Trevon Robertson, a 23-year-old unemployed man, were charged with capital murder, escaping lawful custody, housebreaking, robbery and kidnapping. CBS News, 8 Mar. 2024 The agreements allow residents of the Marshal Islands, Micronesia and Palau to live in the United States as lawful non-immigrants. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 7 Mar. 2024 The case: The special counsel’s office has been investigating whether Trump or those close to him violated the law by interfering with the lawful transfer of power after the 2020 presidential election or with Congress’s confirmation of the results on Jan. 6, 2021. Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2024 Trump again also signed an executive order in April 2020 that blocked foreigners who were seeking lawful permanent residency from entering the country for 60 days, citing this same section of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Jean Lantz Reisz, The Conversation, 8 Mar. 2024 The goal, Frost said, is not to take away guns from lawful owners, but to implement common sense gun control policies to save lives. Emma Tucker, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024 Former congressman and ambassador Pete Hoekstra, who was recognized Tuesday as the lawful chair by a Kent County judge, and earlier was endorsed by the Republican National Committee, has called a convention for the same day, but in Grand Rapids. Detroit Free Press, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lawful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of lawful was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near lawful

Cite this Entry

“Lawful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lawful. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

lawful

adjective
law·​ful ˈlȯ-fəl How to pronounce lawful (audio)
1
: permitted by law
lawful conduct
2
: recognized by law : rightful
the lawful owner
lawfully adverb
lawfulness noun

Legal Definition

lawful

adjective
law·​ful
1
a
: being in harmony with the law
a lawful judgment
a lawful purpose
b
: constituted, authorized, or established by law
a lawful duty
2
: law-abiding
lawful citizens
lawfully adverb
lawfulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on lawful

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