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 bill proposes to make it illegal to implicitly condone or play down acts of terrorism, extending the scope of existing legislation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

These are often people whose student, work or tourist visas have expired, rather than those who have just arrived in the country on small boats or through other illegal routes.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

After reviewing data and some court records for ProPublica and FRONTLINE, Fishman said, “The numbers seem to indicate a pattern and practice of illegal arrests.”

From Salon • Apr. 15, 2026

It’s illegal for officers to access that database for non-official reasons.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

Louis said it was illegal to fish in the marsh, because that area was a game sanctuary.

From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt

Vocabulary lists containing illegal

List 3

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