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.

"We're seeing illegal breeding and trading of exotic cockroaches and we're putting pet businesses and pet owners on notice."

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

In May, Eileen Wang, a former mayor of Arcadia, Calif., agreed to plead guilty to acting as an illegal agent of China for actions she took before entering public office.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

In April, a coalition of Italian-American groups filed a federal lawsuit claiming the statue’s removal was illegal and demanding its return.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir has called for anybody with information on the illegal dumping of farm animals to contact authorities immediately.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

“Asking for a powerful, deadly, and illegal one such as the red Quassia suggests to me that you have some skill...or you're a fool.”

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

Vocabulary lists containing illegal

List 3

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

"A Natural Balance" and "In My Dreams"

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

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

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!