legal age
B2Formal, legal, journalistic, administrative.
Definition
Meaning
The age at which a person gains full adult legal rights and responsibilities according to the law of a particular jurisdiction.
More broadly, the legally defined age for specific activities (e.g., drinking, driving, voting, marriage). Often used to denote the threshold of adulthood from a statutory perspective.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A compound noun, typically used with the definite article ('the legal age') when referring to a general concept, but can be used with an indefinite article when specifying ('a legal age of 18'). It often appears in prepositional phrases like 'below the legal age', 'over the legal age', or 'reach the legal age'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The concept is identical. The specific ages for various activities (e.g., drinking, smoking) differ significantly between the UK and US states. 'Age of majority' is a more precise legal synonym common in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral and factual in both. Slight association with bureaucracy and regulation.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties in legal, news, and official contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the legal age for [noun/gerund] (e.g., for drinking)the legal age of [number] (e.g., of 18)the legal age to [infinitive] (e.g., to vote)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Come of age (related, but broader, implying cultural/social maturity alongside legal)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in HR for employment contracts (e.g., 'You must be above the legal age to work full-time.') and compliance (e.g., age-restricted sales).
Academic
Used in sociology, law, and political science papers discussing rights, responsibilities, and youth policy.
Everyday
Common in discussions about teenagers' privileges, news articles about law changes, or parental guidance.
Technical
Precise term in legal statutes, government documents, and regulatory frameworks defining specific age thresholds.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A. The word is not used as a verb.
American English
- N/A. The word is not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A. The word is not used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A. The word is not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- N/A. 'Legal-age' as a hyphenated pre-modifier is rare. Use 'of legal age' instead.
American English
- N/A. 'Legal-age' as a hyphenated pre-modifier is rare. Use 'of legal age' instead.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- In my country, the legal age for driving a car is 18.
- You must be over the legal age to see this film.
- The government is debating whether to raise the legal age for buying cigarettes.
- She will reach the legal age to vote just before the next election.
- Despite being intellectually mature, he couldn't sign the contract as he was still below the legal age.
- The legal age of consent varies considerably from one jurisdiction to another.
- Proponents of the reform argue that aligning the legal age for military enlistment with the voting age would be more coherent.
- The tribunal had to determine if the defendant, who was a few months shy of the legal age at the time of the offence, should be tried as an adult.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a judge's GAVEL. You need to be of LEGAL AGE to hear its sound in a court where you are tried as an adult.
Conceptual Metaphor
A THRESHOLD or GATEWAY (crossing into a new realm of rights and duties).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'легальный возраст' as it sounds unnatural. Use 'совершеннолетие' (age of majority) or 'возраст, установленный законом'.
- Note that 'legal age' is a fixed compound; in Russian, the adjective often follows the noun in such phrases (возраст получения прав).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'legal age' without 'the' when it's needed (e.g., 'He reached legal age' → 'He reached *the* legal age').
- Confusing 'legal age' (general concept) with a specific age (e.g., 'the legal age for driving is 17' is correct; 'his legal age is 17' is odd, say 'he is 17, the legal age for driving').
Practice
Quiz
What is the most precise synonym for 'legal age' in the context of gaining full adult rights?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the specific age and the activities it governs (drinking, voting, driving) are defined by national or regional (e.g., state) law and vary widely.
'Age of majority' is a specific type of legal age, typically referring to the age of full legal adulthood (e.g., 18). 'Legal age' can refer to that, or to the age set for any specific activity (e.g., a legal age of 21 for drinking).
Not typically. Use the phrase 'of legal age' (e.g., 'a person of legal age'). The hyphenated form 'legal-age voters' is occasionally seen but 'eligible voters' or 'voters of legal age' is more natural.
It is grammatically possible but stylistically awkward and imprecise. It's better to specify: 'He is 16, which is the legal age for [activity]' or 'He has reached the legal age for...'.