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.

“There have been countless incidents of homes being destroyed and limbs lost due to illegal fireworks and we are doing our best to prevent that.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

When asked what they were doing to ensure illegal migrants from Ghana did not come to South Africa, he said they had a reintegration strategy in place for those returning.

From BBC • May 27, 2026

In Brazil, it’s illegal to possess a wild animal without authorization from the government.

From Slate • May 27, 2026

Demonstrators say illegal migrants are putting pressure on public services and have asked the South African government to do more to stop it.

From BBC • May 27, 2026

It was a Tory paper and he wasn’t supposed to have it; it was illegal, so he kept it hidden.

From "My Brother Sam is Dead" by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

Vocabulary lists containing illegal

List 3

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