Words / B1

LORFL/ˈlɔːfl/

Lawful means allowed by law. Legal is a close twin (already in the dictionary); unlawful and illegal are opposites with slightly different legal uses. Law is the noun. Protest: peaceful protest is lawful; blocking an ambulance bay is not.

Meaning

Allowed by law.

Examples

• “Peaceful protest is lawful; blocking the ambulance bay is not.”
• “A lawful search still needs a record in the custody log.”

Good to know

lawful / unlawful. Close: legal / illegal. Noun: law. Policing / protest news. Not a synonym of moral.

Near in meaning

legal

New