legal
le·gal/ˈli.ɡəl/adjective, noun
legal is spelled L-E-G-A-L: 5 letters and 2 syllables (le·gal). It appears 120 times per million words in written English, the 873rd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, legal means “Relating to the law or to lawyers” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in legal?
| Letters | 5: L-E-G-A-L |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: le·gal |
| In writing | 120 times per million words; the 873rd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is legal?
Legal appears 120 times per million words in written English, the 873rd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce legal?
- UK /ˈliː.ɡəl/
- US /ˈli.ɡəl/
Legal has 2 syllables, split le·gal in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-legal.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with legal?
One word on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as legal from its last stressed vowel (/iɡəl/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of legal
- more legal comparative
- most legal superlative
- legals plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does legal mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Relating to the law or to lawyers.
legal profession
- 2
Having its basis in the law.
legal precedent
- 3
Being established, permitted, required or prescribed by law.
legal motion
- 4
Following the rules or syntax of a system, such as a game or a programming language.
If you have no legal move, but are not in check the game is a draw.
- 5
offensiveslangAbove the age of consent or the legal drinking age.
- 6
UScolloquialPermitting the use and/or sale of cannabis; in which cannabis is lawful.
noun
- 1
informalThe legal department of a company or organization.
Legal wants this in writing.
- 2
A spy who is attached to, and ostensibly employed by, an embassy, military outpost, etc.
- 3
USinformalOne who immigrated lawfully.
- 4
CanadaUSOf paper or document layouts, measuring 8+¹⁄₂ × 14 inches (216 × 356 mm).
- 5
Of paper or document layouts, measuring 8+¹⁄₂ × 13 inches (216 × 330 mm).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
How do you abbreviate legal?
Wiktionary records one abbreviation of legal: leg..
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Legal in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | juridique , légal |
| German | juristisch, rechtlich , legal |
| Portuguese | jurídico , legal |
| Spanish | legal |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does legal come from?
Learned borrowing from Latin lēgālis (“legal”), from lēx (“law”). Doublet of loyal and leal.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).