légale

Légale is the feminine singular form of the French adjective légal, meaning legal, lawful, or pertaining to the law. The masculine counterpart is légal, and the plural forms are légaux (masculine) and légales (feminine). Légale is used to describe things that conform to the law or relate to the legal system, and it can modify feminine nouns such as activité, procédure, ou cadre juridique.

Etymology and scope: The word derives from Latin legalis, from lex, legis, “law,” and entered Old French through legal/legale forms. It shares Latin roots with related terms in other Romance languages for concepts tied to law and agreement.

Usage and nuance: In practice, légal emphasizes conformity with the law, while juridique is often used to refer more broadly to the legal system, rights, or jurisprudence. The feminine form légale appears in phrases like une activité légale, une procédure légale, or un cadre légal. The opposite is illégal, illégale, meaning illegal or against the law.

Related terms: Légalité (the state or quality of being legal), droit (law), législation (legislation), jurisprudence (case law), and cadre juridique (legal framework) are common related concepts. While all relate to law, they highlight different aspects: compliance, the body of rules, or the functioning of the legal system.

See also: The term is used across legal and administrative contexts in French, including regulatory, contractual, and ethical discussions where adherence to the law is a central consideration.