different between legally vs lawfully

English

Etymology

legal +? -ly

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?li???li/

Adverb

legally (comparative more legally, superlative most legally)

1. As permitted by law; not contrary to law.

   You can legally park in the lot on weekends without paying the fee, they won't ticket you.

2. From a legal perspective.

   Legally, I think you are covered, but there are angry guys with baseball bats outside.

Usage notes

• Adjectives to which "legally" is often applied: binding, required, responsible, bound, married, entitled, possible, protected, enforceable, authorized, obligated, valid, invalid, registered, qualified, permitted, defined, mandated, dead, insane, blind, correct, prescribed, obliged, defensible, separated, divorced, wrong, effective, armed, incorporated, impossible.

Antonyms

• (as permitted by law): illegally

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle English lawfully, lawfulliche, lawefulliche; equivalent to lawful +? -ly.

Adverb

lawfully (comparative more lawfully, superlative most lawfully)

1. Conforming to the law; legally

Related terms

• lawful

Middle English

Alternative forms

• lawefully, lawfullich, lawfulliche, laufulli, lawfuly, laufulli, lawefulleche, lawefulliche, laghfully, lagh-fulli, laufulleche, lawfulleche, law-fully

Etymology

From laweful +? -ly.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?lau?(?)fuli?/, /?lau?(?)fuli?t?(?)/

Adverb

lawfully

1. Lawfully; in a way allowed by the law or legal system.
2. In a morally or religiously correct or approved way.
3. In an appropriate, justifiable or warrantable way.
4. (rare) In a way that remains true to one's superiors.

Descendants

• English: lawfully

References

• “lauefull?, adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2019-02-19.