lawful
adj.adj. allowed by the law or following the rules of the legal system. You use this to describe actions or things that are officially permitted.
adj. conforming to, permitted by, or recognized by law or relevant rules. Often used to distinguish legitimate actions from those that lack legal standing or authority.
The police confirmed that his actions were entirely lawful.
The company must ensure that all data collection remains lawful under the new privacy regulations.
The court ruled that while the protest was disruptive, it remained a lawful exercise of the right to free assembly under the constitution.
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.
Typically precedes the noun it modifies or follows a linking verb like 'be' or 'remain'.
the lawly actionthe lawful actionLearners sometimes incorrectly apply the '-ly' suffix to 'law' to create an adjective, but 'lawful' is the correct form.