legal Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective established by or founded upon law or official or accepted rules
  2. adjective of or relating to jurisprudence
    • legal loophole
  3. adjective satellite having legal efficacy or force
    sound; effectual.
    • a sound title to the property
  4. adjective relating to or characteristic of the profession of law
    • the legal profession
  5. adjective satellite allowed by official rules
    • a legal pass receiver

WordNet

Le"gal adjective
Etymology
L. legalis, fr. lex, legis, law; prob. orig., that which lies or is fixed (cf. L. lectus bed), and if so akin to E. lie, law: cf. F. légal. Cf. Lie to be prostrate, Loyal, Leal.
Definitions
  1. Created by, permitted by, in conformity with, or relating to, law; as, a legal obligation; a legal standard or test; a legal procedure; a legal claim; a legal trade; anything is legal which the laws do not forbid.
  2. (Theol.) (a) According to the law of works, as distinguished from free grace; or resting on works for salvation. (b) According to the old or Mosaic dispensation; in accordance with the law of Moses
  3. (Law) Governed by the rules of law as distinguished from the rules of equity; as, legal estate; legal assets. Bouvier. Burrill. Syn. -- Lawful; constitutional; legitimate; licit; authorized. See Lawful.

Webster 1913