# lawful

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈlɔːfl̩/ · frequency rank #12,627

## Definitions
1. Conforming to, or recognised by the laws of society.
2. Operating according to some law or fundamental principle.
3. Of a character: having an alignment which makes them tend to follow the laws and conventions of society.

## Etymology
From Middle English laweful, equivalent to law + -ful, conflated with Middle English leful, leeful, leveful (“according to law, lawful, pertaining to law”). See also leveful.

## Easily confused with
- **lawfully** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lawful-vs-lawfully)

## Common misspellings (9)
`alwful`, `lafwul`, `lawfful`, `lawflu`, `lawfull`, `lawufl`, `lawwful`, `llawful`, `lwaful`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/lawful