legalese
noun
le·gal·ese
ˌlē-gə-ˈlēz 
-ˈlēs
-ˈlēs
: the specialized language of the legal profession
replaced legalese with plain talk—
Steve Weinberg
Steve WeinbergExamples of legalese in a Sentence
I was confused by the legalese in the contract.
Recent Examples on the Web
Difficult Language The first thing that many readers will notice is that both of these documents are written, essentially, in legalese.
—John Werner, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
The website may have high-minded ideals, but their termination agreements are full of hard-nosed legalese.
—Kelsey Piper, Vox, 18 May 2024
In a twist of municipal legalese, any charter revision floated by the mayor’s commission could block the advice-and-consent expansion from being enacted this year, as both reforms would require referendums, but only one of them can by law make it onto November’s general election ballot.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 6 June 2024
While crouched in legalese, the bond documents are full of warnings that investors might not get their money back.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 9 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for legalese 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
John Werner, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
The website may have high-minded ideals, but their termination agreements are full of hard-nosed legalese.
—Kelsey Piper, Vox, 18 May 2024
In a twist of municipal legalese, any charter revision floated by the mayor’s commission could block the advice-and-consent expansion from being enacted this year, as both reforms would require referendums, but only one of them can by law make it onto November’s general election ballot.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 6 June 2024
While crouched in legalese, the bond documents are full of warnings that investors might not get their money back.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 9 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for legalese
Dictionary Entries Near legalese
Cite this Entry
“Legalese.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legalese. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
legalese
noun
le·gal·ese
ˌlē-gə-ˈlēz, -ˈlēs
: the specialized language of the legal profession
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share