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.

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

The US Supreme Court struck down those levies as illegal, but tolls on Chinese goods entering the US still sit at around 20 percent.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

Spain's foreign ministry sources also reiterated that the country "considers Abu Keshek's detention illegal".

From BBC • May 5, 2026

“Anyway, he’s done bad things. He made magic use illegal, and he called for the extermination of dragons.”

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

Vocabulary lists containing illegal

List 3

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