legality

noun

le·​gal·​i·​ty li-ˈga-lə-tē 

plural legalities

1

: attachment to or observance of law

2

: the quality or state of being legal : lawfulness

3

legalities plural : obligations imposed by law

Synonyms of legality

• legitimacy

Examples of legality in a Sentence

the senator questioned the legality of the proposed surveillance operation

Recent Examples on the Web

The previously brutalist shape is now adorned with the jewelry of reflectors that are required by the necessities of street legality, and of course there are now four doors rather than two. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 7 Oct. 2026

Battles in and out of court There are now dozens of cases involving tribes, non-Indian casinos and dozens of states – and most experts believe the Supreme Court will ultimately decide the legality of sports prediction markets. — Marshall Cohen, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026

The legality of these warrants are being challenged by Mountbatten-Windsor’s lawyers via judicial review, The Telegraph reported. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026

The lawyer for Suncor and Exxon Mobil, Kannon Shanmugam, replied that some three dozen similar lawsuits have been filed around the country, and that no clear ruling on their legality has been reached. — Henry Gass, Christian Science Monitor, 5 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for legality

• banality
• bestiality
• brutality
• carnality
• centrality
• chirality
• duality
• fatality
• finality
• formality
• frugality
• lethality

Kids Definition

legality

noun

le·​gal·​i·​ty li-ˈgal-ət-ē 

plural legalities

1

: the quality or state of being legal : lawfulness

2

: something that is required by law

Legal Definition

legality

noun

le·​gal·​i·​ty li-ˈga-lə-tē 

plural legalities

1

: attachment to or observance of law

2

: the quality or state of being legal : lawfulness

3

plural : obligations imposed by law