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Legally Common

Legally has 3 different meanings across 1 category:

Adverb

Definitions
Adverb
1

by law; conforming to the law

"we are lawfully wedded now"

2

in a legal manner

"he acted legally"

3

As permitted by law; not contrary to law.

"You can legally park here during the day because there are no restrictions on street parking at this time."

In plain English: Legally means something is allowed by the rules of law and approved by judges.

"You can legally drive once you turn sixteen."

Usage: Use legally when describing actions that comply with the rules of a specific jurisdiction, such as stating an act is done legally in this country but illegally elsewhere. This term often contrasts informally with "illegally" rather than requiring formal synonyms like "lawfully."

Example Sentences
"You can legally drive once you turn sixteen." adv
"You can legally drive once you reach the minimum age requirement." adv
"The company hired an expert to review their contracts and ensure everything was legally sound." adv
"It is not legally possible to own two properties in your name at this time." adv
Related Terms
Antonyms
unlawfully

Origin

Legally comes from combining the word legal with the suffix -ly to mean "in a lawful manner." It entered English as a distinct form alongside related words like leally and loyally, which were alternative spellings for similar adverbs at the time.

Rhyming Words
lly ally illy elly olly tilly felly cilly colly dilly nelly gelly pilly dally pelly lally gally jilly mally celly
Compare
Legally vs