legally

adverb

le·​gal·​ly ˈlē-gə-lē How to pronounce legally (audio)
Synonyms of legallynext
1
: in a legal manner : in accordance with the law
a transfer that was not done legally
a drug that can now be legally bought and sold in many countries
2
: from the point of view of law
Legally, she had no claim to the estate.
They were not legally obligated to provide assistance.
a person who is legally blind [=who is blind according to the legal definition of blindness]
legally drunk [=drunk according to the legal definition of drunkenness]

Synonyms

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Examples of legally in a Sentence

that's not a move that can be made legally in chess
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Although West has released songs with uncleared samples several times in recent months, this use may be less legally problematic, since the Lox track was released on Combs’ Bad Boy Records. — Jem Aswad, Variety, 16 Mar. 2025 Anyone 13 years old or older can legally drive a golf cart in California, according to San Francisco law firm Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger. — Fernanda Galan, Sacramento Bee, 16 Mar. 2025 As recently as 1990, Irish women couldn’t legally purchase contraceptives without medical prescriptions, exemplifying the church and state's iron grip on women's bodily autonomy. — Gemma Allen, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025 McCracken testified Tuesday the boy, now 5, was left with a permanent shunt in his head and legally blind in one eye. — Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for legally

Word History

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of legally was in 1581

Rhymes for legally

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Browse Nearby Words

legally
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Cite this Entry

“Legally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legally. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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