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.

Owning a Starlink terminal is illegal in Iran.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

When the ban on illegal children's homes was introduced, the Conservative Education Secretary said "the BBC had highlighted something that just needed to be changed".

From BBC • May 20, 2026

And even illegal placements can be hugely expensive.

From BBC • May 20, 2026

So councils say they are forced to turn to illegal children's homes.

From BBC • May 20, 2026

I explained that what the State had done to him was illegal and that we could pursue a civil action against them, but he had no interest in that.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

Vocabulary lists containing illegal

List 3

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