legally

adverb

le·​gal·​ly ˈlē-gə-lē 

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

• clean
• cleanly
• fair
• fairly

Examples of legally in a Sentence

that's not a move that can be made legally in chess

Recent Examples on the Web

International students in the United States legally have been seized and threatened with deportation for free speech or opposing governmental policies. —John A. Ragosta, Baltimore Sun, 27 May 2025

Wong curtly told him to read the charter, and other councilors advised him that the referendum legally would have to be before early June. —Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 26 May 2025

These figures do not include donations to independent expenditure committees, since candidates cannot legally be involved in those efforts. —Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2025

Indeed, Trump himself has openly castigated judges who have blocked his legally questionable actions. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for legally

• illegally