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lícito

lawful

adjective LEE-see-toh Rare
People & Society Law

Origin: From Latin 'licitus', past participle of 'licere' (to be permitted).

Also means

permissible

Usage Note

Lícito means legally or morally permitted — the opposite of ilícito (illicit). It often appears in legal and ethical discourse: comercio lícito, actividad lícita. Learners should not confuse lícito with legítimo (legitimate) — lícito stresses permission or absence of prohibition, while legítimo stresses conformity to a right or law. The stress falls on the first syllable, making it a proparoxytone (esdrújula).

Examples

"El tribunal declaró lícita la conducta del acusado."

Natural Translation

The court declared the defendant's conduct lawful.

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