legally

adverb

le·​gal·​ly ˈlē-gə-lē How to pronounce legally (audio)
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]

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.
The complaint argues the Trump administration terminated their statuses by removing the students from the Student and Exchange Visitor System, or SEVIS – an online database schools use to provide the government legally required information about international students. Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2025 Garcia said his trip continues the groundwork that Van Hollen laid. Abrego Garcia, who is from El Salvador, lived legally in Maryland. Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025 But when sourced and harvested legally and responsibly, these animals are valuable renewable natural resources that support the conservation of the species and their delicate habitats. Lauren Parker, Footwear News, 18 Apr. 2025 As with Harvard, revoking the nonprofit status of CREW may be legally fraught. Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Legally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legally. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on legally

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!