lawful

Universal Words adjective (formal) allowed or recognized by law; legal: his lawful heir / wife * Can an act that causes death ever be lawful? OPPUNLAWFUL lawfully adverb: a lawfully elected government * The jury agreed that the doctor had acted lawfully. ______________________________ WHICHWORD? lawful / legal Lawful and legal can both mean 'allowed by law': by lawful/legal means. Lawful tends to be used in technical or literary contexts. The same is true of the opposites, unlawful and illegal, but illegal is used especially about criminal activities. Legal also means 'connected with the law': the US legal system. ______________________________