I. ˈlē-gəl adjective
Etymology: Anglo-French, from Latin legalis, from leg-, lex law
Date: circa 1500
1. : of or relating to law
2.
a. : deriving authority from or founded on law : de jure
b. : having a formal status derived from law often without a basis in actual fact : titular
a corporation is a legal but not a real person
c. : established by law ; especially : statutory
3. : conforming to or permitted by law or established rules
4. : recognized or made effective by a court of law as distinguished from a court of equity
5. : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of the profession of law or of one of its members
6. : created by the constructions of the law
a legal fiction
Synonyms: see lawful
• le·gal·ly -gə-lē adverb
II. noun
Date: 1526
: one that conforms to rules or the law