adjective

1. of, created by, based upon, or authorized by law
2. in conformity with the positive rules of law; permitted by law a legal act
3. that can be enforced in a court of law legal rights
4. of or applicable to lawyers legal ethics
5. in terms of the law a legal offense
6. Theol.
   1. of the Mosaic law
   2. of the doctrine of salvation by good works rather than free grace

Etymology: MFr légal < L legalis < lex (gen. legis), law, prob. < IE base *le-, to collect > L legere, Gr legein, to collect

noun