1. attributive of, based on, or concerned with the law:

〖名詞の前で〗法律の, 法律に関する; 法律家としての, 弁護士の

e.g. the American legal system.

appointed or required by the law:

〖名詞の前で〗法定の, 法律によって定められた; 法律上の

e.g. a legal requirement.

Law recognized by common or statutory law, as distinct from equity.

〘法〙 (エクイティ(衡平法)ではなく)コモンロー［慣習法］で認められた

relating to theological legalism.

2. permitted by law:

法律で認められた, 適法の, 合法的な(｟かたく｠ lawful)(↔ illegal, ｟かたく｠ unlawful)

e.g. he claimed that it had all been legal.

3. US (of paper) measuring 8 ½ by 14 inches:

｟米｠ ＝ legal-size.

e.g. a yellow legal pad.

late Middle English (in the sense ‘to do with Mosaic law’): from French, or from Latin legalis, from lex, leg- ‘law’. Compare with loyal.