1
: in a legal manner : in accordance with the law
a transfer that was not done legally
a drug that can now be legally bought and sold in many countries
2
: from the point of view of law
Legally, she had no claim to the estate.
They were not legally obligated to provide assistance.
a person who is legally blind [=who is blind according to the legal definition of blindness]
legally drunk [=drunk according to the legal definition of drunkenness]
Examples of legally in a Sentence
that's not a move that can be made legally in chess
Recent Examples on the Web
Canadian courts are reinterpreting these rote confessions of historical guilt as legally enforceable admissions of wrongful possession.
—
David Frum, The Atlantic, 27 Dec. 2025
Michael Ramsey, a law professor at the University of San Diego, said the 14th Amendment gave citizenship to children born in the United States, whether their parents were in the country legally or illegally.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 27 Dec. 2025
On May 22, 2024, she was legally adopted, becoming Jeremy and Jennifer's third child.
—Diane Herbst, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
Here’s what to know about presidential term limits and what’s legally possible.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legally
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David Frum, The Atlantic, 27 Dec. 2025
Michael Ramsey, a law professor at the University of San Diego, said the 14th Amendment gave citizenship to children born in the United States, whether their parents were in the country legally or illegally.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 27 Dec. 2025
On May 22, 2024, she was legally adopted, becoming Jeremy and Jennifer's third child.
—Diane Herbst, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
Here’s what to know about presidential term limits and what’s legally possible.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legally
Cite this Entry
“Legally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legally. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
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