Link Centre Dictionary

lawful

law·ful

UK/ˈlɔːfl̩/ US/ˈlɔfl̩/ fairly common

adjective

1.

conformable to or allowed by law

  • “lawful methods of dissent”
Antonyms
Similar
2.
3.

having a legally established claim

  • “the legitimate heir”
  • “the true and lawful king”
Synonyms
Similar
4.

authorized, sanctioned by, or in accordance with law

  • “a legitimate government”
Synonyms
Similar

Origin

From Middle English laweful, equivalent to law + -ful, conflated with Middle English leful, leeful, leveful (“according to law, lawful, pertaining to law”). See also leveful.

Phrases

  • awful but lawful
  • lawful but awful
  • lawful day
  • lawful evil
  • lawful good
  • lawful interception
  • lawful money
  • lawful neutral

Related words

Word family

See also

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.