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legal document

legal document

18 3.1
An official paper that records an agreement, right, or contract
  • noun
  • /ˈliːɡəl ˈdɒkjʊmənt/
  • Formal
translation icon : documento legal
  • The lawyer handed me a legal document that outlined the terms of our partnership.
  • written legal document
  • legal document that describes

That back end, I promise you in a standard legal document is going to be governed by, quote, best efforts, a best efforts clause.

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Examples

  • Before signing any agreement, make sure you fully understand the legal document in front of you.

  • Such applications are legal documents typically drafted by a patent attorney working closely with the inventors.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Five other legal documents were found with the transcript of his trial.

  • Before I represent you, I'm gonna need you to sign these legal documents.

  • So far as I know, he never appeared in court or handled a legal document.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • The employers wanted very specific workplace experience handling legal documents, rules, and issues of interest to them.

    Blog text (19)
  • And so there will be a legal document that specifies how these options work.

  • Patient notes are a legal document, and it helps if they are legible.

    Academic text (2012)
  • I know there is the problem of enforcement, but a legal document can be constructed that is enforceable.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Kate is at the counter, her back to him, poring over some legal documents.

    Fiction book (2000)

Synonyms

contract
vslegal document
2.8

A written agreement between people or companies that the law can enforce

is the official paper form that records such enforceable arrangements
deed
vslegal document
  • Formal
152 5.8

A signed paper that shows who owns land or a house

is the wider official paper category beyond property transfer cases
instrument
vslegal document
  • Formal
65 8.3

A legal document that records an agreement or gives a right

is the broader official paper used to record such agreements and rights
papers
vslegal document
23 1.9

Official documents that show who you are or give legal information

is the specific official paper that records agreements, grants, or contracts
official document
vslegal document
  • Formal
5 3.3

A record issued by an authority that shows a legal agreement or gives a right

is the general official paper that records agreements or grants rights
written agreement
vslegal document
  • Formal
3 2.7

A document that writes down what two or more people agree to

is the official paper that records those agreement terms or rights
legal instrument
vslegal document
  • Formal
1 6.1

A formal written document that creates a legal right or agreement

is the general official paper that records agreements or grants rights

How Official

deed
  • Formal
152 5.8
legal document
  • Formal
18 3.1
agreement
  • Formal
1.4
letter
  • Formal
159 7.2
note
1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

legal + document

The meaning 'an official paper pertaining to law' is directly and compositionally derived from 'legal' (relating to law) plus 'document' (an official written item). This adjective+noun pattern is regular and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily understand the phrase.

Etymology

Legal document comes from two parts: legal, meaning 'about law', and document, a word for a paper that 'shows' or 'proves' something. Long ago people used such papers to show who had rights or who agreed to something, so a legal document is a paper that records an agreement or a right.