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Definition of legalese

legalese

/ˌliː.ɡəlˈiːz/
le · gal · ese
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legalese Lexical Profile

legalese Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The formal and technical language of legal documents, often considered needlessly complex and difficult for laypeople to understand.

Example

"The insurance policy was written in such dense legalese that we had to hire an attorney to explain the coverage limits."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

"Legalese" is almost always used with a mildly disapproving or critical tone to highlight that legal writing is unnecessarily convoluted and inaccessible to ordinary people.

• Rhymes for legalese

• Nearby Words

leg
legacy
legal
legalese
legalism
legalist
legality

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the early 20th century, formed from the word "legal" and the suffix "-ese" (used to denote a specific dialect or style of jargon, on the pattern of "journalese" or "officialese").

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Legalese. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/legalese
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