legalese

noun

le·​gal·​ese ˌlē-gə-ˈlēz How to pronounce legalese (audio) -ˈlēs How to pronounce legalese (audio)
: the specialized language of the legal profession
replaced legalese with plain talkSteve Weinberg

Examples of legalese in a Sentence

I was confused by the legalese in the contract.
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.
So that felt like a huge success, and it was born out of research — just digging in, finding out more about the technical things, from the legalese that these characters speak to how a dash-cam DVR actually works. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 11 June 2025 When Agreements Become Infrastructure Perhaps the most profound shift is this: trade agreements, once enshrined in legalese and negotiated by diplomats, are now being expressed as code. Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025 If anything, some users may rely on agents to review legalese for them. Paresh Dave, Wired News, 22 May 2025 While the majority of the filing is being considered dense legalese, the message is clear that Diddy’s team is drawing a hard line, asserting that Richard’s claims doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for legalese

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of legalese was in 1911

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Cite this Entry

“Legalese.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legalese. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

Legal Definition

legalese

noun
le·​gal·​ese ˌlē-gə-ˈlēz, -ˈlēs How to pronounce legalese (audio)
: the specialized language of the legal profession

More from Merriam-Webster on legalese

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