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
The case: The special counsel’s office has been investigating whether Trump or those close to him violated the law by interfering with the lawful transfer of power after the 2020 presidential election or with Congress’s confirmation of the results on Jan. 6, 2021.
—
Devlin Barrett, Washington Post, 9 July 2024
The Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act is designed to protect the privacy of lawful and private firearm and ammunition purchases from being abused for political purposes.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 7 July 2024
Bannon refused the lawful order — and Monday, began paying the consequences for that defiance, reporting to prison to serve a four-month term.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 3 July 2024
The other lawsuit challenged the use of unmonitored drop boxes, which the judge also ruled as lawful.
—Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for lawful 
Devlin Barrett, Washington Post, 9 July 2024
The Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act is designed to protect the privacy of lawful and private firearm and ammunition purchases from being abused for political purposes.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 7 July 2024
Bannon refused the lawful order — and Monday, began paying the consequences for that defiance, reporting to prison to serve a four-month term.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 3 July 2024
The other lawsuit challenged the use of unmonitored drop boxes, which the judge also ruled as lawful.
—Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for lawful
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 15 Jul. 2024.
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