Lawful definition

lôfəl
Being within the law; allowed by law.

Lawful methods of dissent.

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The definition of lawful is something that is legal or that is permitted or accepted by governing principles and rules of law.

Driving within the speed limit and obeying the rules of the road is an example of lawful behavior.

A child born within the confines of a legal marriage is an example of a lawful child.

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Obeying the law; law-abiding.
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Permissible; not contravening a law.
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Conforming to, or recognised by law or rules.
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Established, sanctioned, or recognized by the law.

The lawful heir.

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Obeying the law; law-abiding.
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In conformity with the principles of the law; permitted by law.

A lawful act.

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Recognized by or established by law; just or valid.

Lawful debts.

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Origin of lawful

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

    From Wiktionary

Lawful Sentence Examples

  • Young Adams graduated from Harvard College in 1740, and three years later, on attaining the degree of A.M., chose for his thesis, "Whether it be Lawful to resist the Supreme Magistrate, if the Commonwealth cannot otherwise be preserved."

  • Or would she be merely submitting to his lawful privileges?

  • Yet Judaism under Roman Christian law was a lawful religion (religio licita), Valentinian I.

  • By the law of God and man you should have subsistence and lawful to take it."

  • In its sixth chapter the question whether it is lawful to overthrow a tyrant is freely discussed and answered in the affirmative, a circumstance which brought much odium upon the Jesuits, especially after the assassination of Henry IV.

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