illegal

[ih-lee-guhl] / ɪˈli gəl /

ADJECTIVE

against the law

Synonyms

STRONGEST

banned criminal illegitimate illicit irregular outlawed prohibited smuggled unauthorized unconstitutional unlawful unlicensed unwarranted wrongful

WEAK

actionable black-market bootleg contraband crooked extralegal felonious forbidden heavy hot interdicted lawless not approved not legal outside the law proscribed prosecutable racket shady sub-rosa taboo under-the-table unofficial unwarrantable verboten violating wildcat

Antonyms

STRONGEST

authorized blessed ethical good justifiable lawful legal legitimate moral permitted right warranted

WEAK

allowed permissible

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This week, unsealed documents show she’s been charged with acting as an illegal foreign agent of China.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

However, the long journey across the Middle East and Europe is both illegal and unsafe at almost every step of the way.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

Attorneys at large law firms and public companies routinely handle undisclosed earnings releases or proposed mergers, information that could form the basis for illegal insider trading.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026

"Any witness, whether a reporter or otherwise, who has information about these criminals should not be surprised if they receive a subpoena about the illegal leaking of classified material," he added.

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

By 1787, when the Constitution was being drafted, most of the Northern states had already made the foreign slave trade illegal.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

Vocabulary lists containing illegal

List 3

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