Definitions

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.

The families of the victims filed a $35-million claim against the county and state fireworks regulators alleging widespread negligence for allowing the illegal operation to continue.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026

In 1966, he led the workers on an illegal strike, paralyzing the city and its idealistic new mayor, John V. Lindsay.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

After Thursday's raids, which started in the morning were still ongoing well into the night, the police detained one of the paper's top investigative reporters on alleged illegal personal data use, Novaya Gazeta said.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 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

The Court has ruled that a city police department cannot be sued for damages unless a specific city policy or custom can be identified authorizing the illegal practice.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Vocabulary lists containing illegal

List 3

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"A Natural Balance" and "In My Dreams"

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

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