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Showing results for illegal. Search instead for illegala.
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.

Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour called the ruling a win, as various states have filed lawsuits against Kalshi, arguing its operations constitute illegal gambling.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

Monkey Forest park director Matt Lovatt said: "Knowing that her DNA could help protect Barbary macaques from poaching and illegal trade is something truly special."

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

Sanchez has always denied any illegal funding of his party and rebuffed calls for polls before the next scheduled general election, due in 2027.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

In a March ruling unsealed Thursday, a federal judge found that Border Patrol agents had continued making illegal arrests in California’s Central Valley without reasonable suspicion.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

It was illegal to bring all this Western loot into the Soviet Union, but Penkovsky breezed through customs without a search—the goodies were for his bosses, and they made sure he wasn’t bothered.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin