lawful
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lawful
Describes that something complies with the law or a rule and is therefore valid or permissible. It is often used to confirm the legality of an action or decision.
Das Gericht entschied, dass die Kündigung nicht rechtens war.
The court decided that the dismissal was not lawful.
The word 'rechtens' (lawful) is almost always used with the verb 'sein' (to be) and comes after the noun. It is not declined before a noun like a normal adjective.
Das Vorgehen der Firma war nicht rechtens.
The company's actions were not lawful.
'Rechtens' is an old genitive form of 'Recht' (law/right). It literally means 'of the law' or 'in accordance with the law' and expresses that something agrees with the law.
Die Richterin prüfte, ob die Handlung rechtens war.
The judge checked whether the action was lawful.
This word belongs to formal language and is mainly used in legal or administrative contexts. In everyday speech, it is rather rare to hear.
In dem offiziellen Dokument wurde bestätigt, dass alles rechtens zugegangen ist.
The official document confirmed that everything had been done lawfully.
legal
Legal and rechtens both express that something complies with the law. Legal is the more general adjective and also fits ordinary statements; rechtens is usually used in formal language and functions adverbially, especially when confirming a decision or action. Choose the form that fits the sentence structure and register.
Das Gericht stellte fest, dass die Kündigung rechtens war.
The court determined that the termination was lawful.
Es ist legal, das Fahrrad vor dem Haus abzustellen.
It is legal to leave the bicycle outside the house.
