Meaning & use
legal channels
Last updated
Meaning
phrasepluralformallaw
the official and lawful ways of doing something, such as through courts, government offices, or formal procedures.
Grammar: Used as a plural noun phrase: go through legal channels; use legal channels. It is not usually used in the singular.
Patterns
- go through legal channels
- use legal channels
- pursue something through legal channels
The company decided to resolve the dispute through legal channels.
If you are not satisfied, you can seek compensation through legal channels.
They tried to settle the matter using legal channels rather than protests.
Common combinations
- through legal channels
- The complaint was made through legal channels.
- use legal channels
- The workers chose to use legal channels to demand better pay.
- pursue something through legal channels
- They will pursue the case through legal channels.
- proper legal channels
- The matter must go through the proper legal channels.
Synonyms and how they differ
- official procedures
- Official procedures is a broader term for the correct steps in any organization, while legal channels specifically refers to lawful, often court-based, routes.
- due process
- Due process is a legal term for the fair treatment a person must receive through the justice system; legal channels is less technical and can refer to any lawful method.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: legal channels or legal channel?
legal channels vs legal channel
The singular 'legal channel' is rare and usually refers to a single official route; the plural 'legal channels' is the fixed phrase meaning the official system as a whole.
Practice
Choose the best completion: 'They decided to settle the dispute through ___.'
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase is 'through legal channels', always plural. 'Legal channel' is not used in this way, and the other options are not grammatical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “legal channels”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.