lawful

[law-fuhl] / ˈlɔ fəl /

ADJECTIVE

allowable, legitimate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

authorized constitutional justifiable legal permissible proper rightful statutory valid

WEAK

bona fide canonical card-carrying commanded condign decreed due enacted enforced enjoined established innocent judged judicial jural juridical jurisprudent just kosher legalized legislated legit legitimatized licit mandated of right official on the level on the up and up ordained ordered passed protected ruled vested warrantable warranted

Antonyms

STRONGEST

illegal illegitimate incorrect unacceptable wrong

WEAK

illicit prohibited taboo unlawful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They received lawful permanent residency in June 2016, Rubio said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026

Saleh and three other British nationals appeared in court on Tuesday, where they pleaded not guilty to unlawfully entering the US at a location not designated as a lawful port of entry.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

So he tried again, this time describing his force as the “most professional in the world” and vowing it would “always strike lawful targets.”

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026

The government isn’t asking the court to disturb Wong Kim Ark’s treatment of children born to lawful permanent residents—who nowadays have green cards.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Joffrey awarded him the lands, castle, and rights of'House Darry, whose last child lord had perished during the fighting in the riverlands, "leaving no truebom heirs of lawful Darry blood, but only a bastard cousin."

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

Vocabulary lists containing lawful

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You Are Correct! Synonyms for "Right"

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