1
a
: being in harmony with the law
a lawful judgment
b
: constituted, authorized, or established by law : rightful
lawful institutions
2
: law-abiding
lawful citizens
Examples of lawful in a Sentence
a lawful search of the property
hunting is a lawful activity only if you have the proper license
Recent Examples on the Web
This reinstates the policies first established in 2015 that regulate telecom companies and prohibit the blocking or throttling of certain, lawful content.
—
Oscar Gonzalez / Gizmodo, Quartz, 26 Apr. 2024
Agents say the operator of the boat, Jose Valdes Amador, is a Cuban citizen with lawful permanent residence in the U.S.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2024
Arizona grand jury indictment alleges conspiracy 'preventing the lawful transfer of the presidency'
That description closely matches Jack Wilenchik, an Arizona attorney who helped organize the fake electors' meeting.
—Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 25 Apr. 2024
Using these methods, the six are alleged to have killed possibly dozens of mules and bucks within and outside the lawful season.
—Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 22 Apr. 2024
For millions of Americans, guns are a dangerous but acceptable tool for self-defense or sport — something to be handled only by those who meet a baseline level of lawful responsibility.
—Francis Wilkinson, The Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2024
But many arrive with their families through lawful pathways, including the Refugee Admissions Program, which is rebounding after cutbacks during the Trump administration and pandemic.
—Jackie Valley, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Apr. 2024
Chambers has been charged with four misdemeanors, including entering a restricted building without lawful authority with the intention to impede or disrupt government business.
—The Enquirer, 16 Apr. 2024
Advertisement Schey also led the case against California’s 1994 law, Proposition 187, that sought to deny medical care, social services and education to people suspected of lacking lawful immigration status.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Oscar Gonzalez / Gizmodo, Quartz, 26 Apr. 2024
Agents say the operator of the boat, Jose Valdes Amador, is a Cuban citizen with lawful permanent residence in the U.S.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2024
Arizona grand jury indictment alleges conspiracy 'preventing the lawful transfer of the presidency'
That description closely matches Jack Wilenchik, an Arizona attorney who helped organize the fake electors' meeting.
—Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 25 Apr. 2024
Using these methods, the six are alleged to have killed possibly dozens of mules and bucks within and outside the lawful season.
—Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 22 Apr. 2024
For millions of Americans, guns are a dangerous but acceptable tool for self-defense or sport — something to be handled only by those who meet a baseline level of lawful responsibility.
—Francis Wilkinson, The Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2024
But many arrive with their families through lawful pathways, including the Refugee Admissions Program, which is rebounding after cutbacks during the Trump administration and pandemic.
—Jackie Valley, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Apr. 2024
Chambers has been charged with four misdemeanors, including entering a restricted building without lawful authority with the intention to impede or disrupt government business.
—The Enquirer, 16 Apr. 2024
Advertisement Schey also led the case against California’s 1994 law, Proposition 187, that sought to deny medical care, social services and education to people suspected of lacking lawful immigration status.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lawful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near lawful
Cite this Entry
“Lawful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lawful. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
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