Lícito

Lícito is an adjective used in Spanish and Portuguese to describe something permitted by law or by established norms. It denotes legality or legitimacy in a broad sense, and its antonym is ilícito, meaning illegal or illicit. The term derives from Latin licitus, from licere, “to be permitted” or “to be allowed.”

In legal and social usage, actos, conduct, or claims described as lícito are considered lawful, valid, or socially acceptable. For example, a contrato lícito is a contract that complies with legal requirements and is enforceable; una acción lícita refers to an action permitted by law. In contrast, actos ilícitos violate legal or moral rules. In everyday language, phrases such as no es lícito or es lícito suelen indicate whether something is allowed or appropriate under current norms.

The term is common in both Spanish-speaking and Portuguese-speaking contexts, where it functions similarly and helps distinguish what is legally permissible from what is prohibited. In formal discourse, licitud (the noun form) expresses the quality of being lícito or the legitimacy of a particular act, while ilicitud or ilicitude refers to illegality.

See also terms related to legality and legitimacy, such as legalidade, legitimidad, and normativity. While the core meaning centers on permissibility under law, lícito also captures broader notions of ethical acceptability and social appropriateness in various jurisdictions.