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.

Refugees or illegal migrants crossing the river into Greece enter a heavily militarised restricted zone, dotted with watchtowers.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Blockading merchant ships violates the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and is illegal, she noted.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

“Focusing on illegal wildlife trade is not enough,” said Meredith Gore, a conservation criminologist at the University of Maryland and a co-author of the study.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

“No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

“Miss ten Boom! I do hope you’re not involved with any of this illegal concealment and undercover business. It’s just not safe! Think of your father! And your sister —she’s never been strong!”

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Vocabulary lists containing illegal

List 3

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