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.

Elsewhere, Coinbase appeared to shrug off news Tuesday that New York Attorney General Letitia James sued the company for illegal gambling operations on its prediction market platforms.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

Analysts said the ELN has little interest in negotiating a peace deal with Colombia’s government that would disarm the group and end its role in lucrative illegal enterprises.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

Producing rare earths requires heavy chemicals and can produce toxic waste, with cases including illegal operations polluting Mekong tributaries in Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia with arsenic and cadmium.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

In August, a new team comprising officials from the national financial regulators and the Korean stock exchange was set up to investigate illegal stock trading activities.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

Suzuki filed proceedings to address what she claimed was an illegal arrest.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Vocabulary lists containing illegal

List 3

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

"A Natural Balance" and "In My Dreams"

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

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

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!