Lawful example sentences

"Lawful" Example Sentences

The court ruled that the search was lawful under the Fourth Amendment.
She wanted to make sure everything they were doing was completely lawful.
His business practices, while aggressive, remained lawful throughout the investigation.
The police officer explained that the arrest was lawful because they had a valid warrant.
They found a lawful way to reduce their taxes without crossing any legal lines.
After months of debate, the city council finally approved a lawful ordinance.
He kept insisting his methods were lawful, but the jury disagreed.
The contract was lawful, binding, and impossible to break without penalty.
Honestly, I'm not even sure if what we're doing is lawful anymore.
The government claimed the detention was lawful, but human rights groups disagreed.
She consulted a lawyer to confirm the arrangement was lawful.
What's lawful isn't always what's right, and that's the whole problem.
The company argued their practices were lawful and transparent.
Nobody could deny that the decision was lawful, even if it felt unfair.
He'd spent years finding lawful loopholes in the system.
The protest remained lawful until the police started making arrests.
I need to know if this is lawful before I sign anything.
Their methods might be lawful, but they're definitely unethical.
The judge confirmed that the evidence was lawful and admissible.
Lawful doesn't mean good — that's something people forget.
They were determined to find a lawful solution to the problem.
The search warrant made the seizure lawful in the eyes of the court.
After the ruling, the practice was no longer lawful in that state.
He'd always operated in a lawful manner, which made him boring at parties.
The detention wasn't lawful, and the case got thrown out.
She wondered if there was any lawful way to challenge the decision.
The procedure was lawful but deeply unpopular with voters.
Everything they did was technically lawful, which was the whole point.
The government's actions, while lawful, sparked massive protests.
He kept repeating that the arrest was lawful, as if that settled it.

Common Phrases

lawful authority
lawful arrest
lawful search
lawful purpose
lawful means
lawful right
lawful conduct
lawful order
lawful procedure
lawful detention

Examples by Level

Is it lawful to park here?
The police said the arrest was lawful.

She wanted to make sure the business was lawful before investing.
The government claimed the new rule was lawful and fair.

The court ruled that the search was lawful, even though it felt invasive.
What's lawful isn't always what people think is right.

The company's practices were technically lawful, but critics argued they exploited a loophole.
He'd spent years finding lawful ways to challenge the system from within.

The tension between what is lawful and what is just has never been more apparent than in this case.
She understood that operating within lawful boundaries often meant accepting compromises that felt morally incomplete.

There exists a peculiar kind of injustice in actions that are scrupulously lawful yet fundamentally corrosive to the social fabric.
The distinction between lawful conduct and ethical conduct had become, for him, an unbridgeable chasm.

Examples by Scenario

🏠 Everyday Life

I'm pretty sure parking here isn't lawful, so let's find another spot.
My neighbor keeps complaining that my fence isn't lawful, but I had it inspected.

💼 Workplace

HR confirmed that the new policy is lawful and applies to everyone equally.
We need to make sure all our hiring practices are lawful before the audit.

📊 Business

The acquisition was lawful, but it raised questions about market concentration.
Our legal team confirmed that the contract terms are lawful and enforceable.

🛒 Buying / Shopping

The seller said the item was lawful to own, but I'm still not sure.
I checked and it's lawful to import these goods without a special license.

✈️ Travel

The border agent said our documents were lawful and we could cross.
We wanted to make sure our travel plans were lawful in every country we visited.

📚 Education

The school's discipline policy is lawful, but some parents think it's too harsh.
The teacher explained that the search of student lockers was lawful under school rules.

❤️ Relationships

We got married in a lawful ceremony, even though my family wasn't there.
He insisted everything between us was lawful and above board, which somehow made it worse.

📰 News / Politics

The government claims the surveillance program is lawful under existing statutes.
Civil rights groups argue that while the detention may be lawful, it violates basic human dignity.

💻 Technology

The company's data collection practices are lawful, but privacy advocates want stricter rules.
The software uses lawful methods to access user information, though many find it invasive.

📝 Formal Writing

The statute permits lawful detention for up to seventy-two hours without formal charges.
The court determined that the search was conducted in a lawful manner consistent with constitutional protections.