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.

Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour called the ruling a win, as various states have filed lawsuits against Kalshi, arguing its operations constitute illegal gambling.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

The appeals court ruled that Keenan couldn’t use the gun as evidence because police had conducted an illegal search, forcing Keenan to dismiss the case.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

The US State Department said that while it did not comment on "diplomatic communications with other governments" the government remained "unwavering" in its "commitment to end illegal and mass immigration and bolster America's border security".

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

Many of them—instituted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act—were deemed illegal by the U.S.

From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026

Now it became illegal for soldiers to stop fighting.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

illegal

Example Sentences

Related Words