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.

FinCEN said the conglomerate had received at least $4 billion worth of illegal proceeds between August 2021 and January 2025.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

Mountain lions are considered a “specially protected mammal” and are illegal to hunt for sport in California.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

A jury ruled Live Nation an illegal monopoly last month, a decision the company said it would fight.

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

Either way, she said, the operation was illegal.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

Others are for causes: No human is illegal.

From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day

Vocabulary lists containing illegal

List 3

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Fear and Loathing in Cleveland: Trump's RNC Acceptance Speech

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