õiguslik

Õiguslik is Estonian an adjective meaning lawful, legitimate, or in accordance with the law, and also relating to rights. It describes actions, claims, institutions, or statuses that comply with legal norms or derive from a legal basis. In contrast to moral or ethical judgments, õiguslik emphasizes conformance with statutory rules and recognized legal processes.

Etymology: The word is formed from the noun õigus, meaning law or right, with the adjectival suffix -lik. The term is part of the Estonian lexicon and is used across law, politics, and social sciences.

Usage: The adjective is common in legal, administrative, and scholarly contexts. Typical collocations include õiguslik alus (legal basis), õiguslik kehtivus or simply kehtiv (legal validity or in force), and õiguslik pädevus (legal competence). In discourse, it can describe decisions, institutions, or actions as lawful or properly authorized.

Nuances: õiguslik denotes legality rather than moral legitimacy; a claim or action can be õiguslik yet disputed on other grounds, for example politically or ethically. It also appears in phrases that describe processes following proper legal procedures.

See also: Related concepts include õigus (law, right), õiguspärane (legitimate, rightful), õiglus (justice), and juridiline (juridical).