lícit

Lícit is an adjective used to describe actions, activities, or goods that are permitted by law or that fall within the bounds of legality. In English-language legal and regulatory contexts, licit indicates compliance with applicable statutes, regulations, or contractual requirements, as opposed to illicit, which denotes forbidden or unlawful conduct.

Etymology and cognates: The term derives from Latin licitus, meaning permitted, from licere, to be allowed. In English, licit appears in historical and formal usage and remains common in law, economics, and public policy. Romance languages feature closely related forms such as Spanish lícito and Portuguese lícito, both meaning lawful or legitimate.

Usage and context: Licit is often found in phrases like licit activity, licit business, or licit means of payment. It is used to distinguish permissible conduct from illicit alternatives, such as illicit gains, illicit markets, or illicit transactions. In regulatory writing, licit compliance signals alignment with legal standards, while licit goods or licit funds imply they are legally obtained and used.

Variants and notes: In everyday English, licit is relatively formal; more common synonyms include legal, lawful, or legitimate. In Spanish and Portuguese, lícito is the direct equivalent, with ilícito marking the opposite. The Latin root remains visible in many legal and academic discussions, sometimes in the form licitus or licite in other Romance languages.

See also: illicit, legality, lawful, legitimate, compliance.