legalese
noun
le·gal·ese
ˌlē-gə-ˈlēz 
-ˈlēs
-ˈlēs
: the specialized language of the legal profession
replaced legalese with plain talk—
Steve Weinberg
Steve WeinbergExamples of legalese in a Sentence
I was confused by the legalese in the contract.
Recent Examples on the Web
The website may have high-minded ideals, but their termination agreements are full of hard-nosed legalese.
—Kelsey Piper, Vox, 18 May 2024
In a twist of municipal legalese, any charter revision floated by the mayor’s commission could block the advice-and-consent expansion from being enacted this year, as both reforms would require referendums, but only one of them can by law make it onto November’s general election ballot.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 6 June 2024
While crouched in legalese, the bond documents are full of warnings that investors might not get their money back.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 9 May 2024
But there’s an automatic pause — in legalese, a stay — if the person or entity obtains a bond guaranteeing payment of what’s owed.
—Michael R. Sisak, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for legalese 
Kelsey Piper, Vox, 18 May 2024
In a twist of municipal legalese, any charter revision floated by the mayor’s commission could block the advice-and-consent expansion from being enacted this year, as both reforms would require referendums, but only one of them can by law make it onto November’s general election ballot.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 6 June 2024
While crouched in legalese, the bond documents are full of warnings that investors might not get their money back.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 9 May 2024
But there’s an automatic pause — in legalese, a stay — if the person or entity obtains a bond guaranteeing payment of what’s owed.
—Michael R. Sisak, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for legalese
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'legalese.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Legalese.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legalese. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
legalese
noun
le·gal·ese
ˌlē-gə-ˈlēz, -ˈlēs
: the specialized language of the legal profession
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