Lawful
'lɔːfʊl
adjectivemediumCommonLegal
Meaning
Questions
Definitions
1
Conforming to the law; allowed by law.
'lɔːfʊl
adjectiveneutralmedium
Legal
Conforming to the law
The police officer ensured the arrest was lawful.
💡 Simply: Imagine rules everyone agrees to follow. 'Lawful' things are those that follow those rules. Like, it's lawful to pay your taxes, and not lawful to steal from a store.
👶 For kids: Doing what the rules say is okay.
More Examples
2
The company's actions were deemed lawful by the court.
3
It is lawful to express your opinion within the bounds of the law.
How It's Used
Legal
"The judge declared the evidence lawful."
Government
"The lawful government maintains order in the country."
From Middle English 'lawful', from Old English 'lagufull' ('law-full').
The term 'lawful' has been used in legal contexts since the Middle Ages to denote adherence to established rules and customs.